The new head of the U.N. humanitarian aid agency has pledged a “ruthless” approach to prioritizing spending, emphasizing the need to maximize limited resources amid growing fundraising challenges for civilians in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine.
Tom Fletcher, a veteran British diplomat who assumed leadership of the agency last month, announced a reduced funding request for 2025 compared to this year. He stressed the importance of focusing resources effectively, even as global crises become more frequent, severe, and protracted.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) unveiled its 2025 global appeal on Wednesday, seeking $47 billion to assist 190 million people in 32 countries. However, it estimates that 305 million people worldwide require aid.
“The world is on fire, and this is how we put it out,” Fletcher told reporters on Tuesday, acknowledging the enormity of the task.
OCHA, along with other humanitarian organizations such as the International Red Cross, has faced declining donations for enduring crises in places like Syria, South Sudan, and the Middle East, as well as newer emergencies in Ukraine and Sudan. Access to aid remains a significant challenge in certain areas, particularly Sudan and Gaza.
As of last month, only 43% of OCHA’s $50 billion appeal for 2024 had been funded. One result of this shortfall was an 80% reduction in food aid for Syria, where violence has recently intensified.
For 2025, the largest funding needs are for Syria, which requires $8.7 billion for assistance within the country and neighboring nations hosting Syrian refugees. Sudan’s needs total $6 billion, followed by $4 billion for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, $3.3 billion for Ukraine, and nearly $3.2 billion for Congo.
Fletcher stressed the need to focus aid on those most in need, describing the decision-making process as a “ruthless” exercise in prioritization.
“I choose that word carefully because it reflects the tough judgments required to allocate funds where they will have the greatest impact,” he said, admitting past struggles to secure sufficient funding.
Addressing concerns about future U.S. support under President-elect Donald Trump, Fletcher said he expects to spend considerable time in Washington advocating for humanitarian funding. The United States remains the U.N.’s largest donor, but Fletcher acknowledged that some governments may adopt a more skeptical stance toward U.N. initiatives.
“America is very much on our minds at the moment,” he said, recognizing the potential for greater scrutiny of humanitarian efforts.
The year has been the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers and U.N. staff, largely due to the Middle East conflict ignited by the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian militants in Israel.