The United States remains the largest UN donor despite recent cutbacks.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced Monday it is drastically reducing its aid efforts due to what it calls “brutal funding cuts.”
The agency had originally sought $44 billion under the 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview to assist 180 million people in over 70 countries. It has now revised its target to $29 billion, citing a severe shortfall.
As of mid-2025, only $5.6 billion — less than 13% of the needed funds — has been received. “We have been forced into a triage of human survival,” said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief.
The cuts follow a decision by the Trump administration to reduce U.S. contributions to multiple UN agencies. Other donors have also scaled back due to global economic instability.
“All we ask is 1% of what you chose to spend last year on war,” Fletcher said. “This isn’t just an appeal for money — it’s a call for global responsibility.”