The UN and partners on Monday launched their global humanitarian fund to save millions of lives where shocks hit hardest from in wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics and where crop failures occur.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the immediate priority of the fund remained to save 87 million lives with US$23 billion in funding, and that ultimately, in 2026, the aim is to raise a total of US$33 billion to support 135 million people through 23 country operations and six plans for refugees and migrants.
Commenting on the initiative, UN Humanitarian Chief, Tom Fletcher, said: “This appeal sets out where we need to focus our collective energy first: life by life.
“The Global Humanitarian Overview 2026 is grounded in reform, evidence and efficiency. We’re shifting power to local organizations, putting more money directly into the hands of the people who need it, and behind it all, we are renewing and reimagining humanitarian action with idealism, humility and hope”, he added.
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According to the global organization, the highly prioritized appeal follows a year when humanitarian lifelines strained and, in some places, snapped due to brutal funding cuts.
It disclosed that funding for the appeal in 2025 – $12 billion – was the lowest in a decade and humanitarians reached 25 million less people than in 2024, noting that the consequences are that hunger surged, health systems came under crushing strain, education fell away, mine clearance stalled and families faced blow after blow: no shelter, no cash assistance, no protection services.
The OCHA lamented that amidst this devastation, civilians were exposed to utter disregard for the laws of war and more than 320 aid workers were killed, the vast majority local staff.
It hinted that in 2026, the largest individual response plan would be for the Occupied Palestinian Territory where $4.1 billion is needed to reach 3 million people, who have experienced shocking levels of violence and destruction, adding that in Sudan, the world’s largest displacement crisis, $2.9 billion is needed for 20 million people while the largest of the regional plans is for Syria at $2.8 billion for 8.6 million people.
The Office expatiated that as aid groups concentrate resources where crises are worst, they were also cutting duplication and supporting markets by buying locally, making sure every dollar works for the people they serve.
It stated that the UN would now take the appeal to the member-states and ask for their backing and also be urged to use their influence to increase the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in armed conflict by holding perpetrators – and those arming them – to account.
Fletcher further said: “I will then share the amounts committed and answer a simple question: did governments show up? “The answer will define who lives and who falls through the cracks.”
