Global Humanitarian Overview 2015 - March Update [EN/AR]

In December 2015, humanitarian partners launched a consolidated appeal requesting US$16.4 billion to assist 57.5 million people in 22 countries.

As of March these initial estimates have risen to $18.8 billion, the highest amount ever requested through the consolidated appeal system, to address the needs of 74.9 million people in 34 countries.
The overall increase in the amount requested is mainly due to the February launch of the 2015 regional appeal for the Sahel, for a total of $1.9 billion. Humanitarian action in the Sahel continues to be guided by the 2014-2016 Sahel regional strategic response plan which addresses immediate life-saving needs and shapes the response to chronic needs in the region.

The 2015 Sahel appeal includes nine country-specific response plans and a regional component aiming to reach 9.3 million people with food assistance and 3.2 million children suffering from acute malnutrition.

The updated global requirements include the Vanuatu Flash Appeal which seeks $29.9 million to respond to humanitarian needs caused by tropical cyclone Pam which hit the country on 13 March.
The requirements also include inter-agency response plans for emergencies carrying over from 2014 into 2015. In Guatemala and Honduras, the worst drought for many years has resulted in crop failures and growing food insecurity.

In Libya, the humanitarian appeal to meet the needs of displaced people and others at risk has been extended until June 2015. In Djibouti, as part of the multi-year strategy first developed in 2014, humanitarian partners are calling for $67.3 million for their 2015 response plan.

Over 60 per cent of 2015 requirements are for L3 crises (Iraq, Syria, Central African Republic and South Sudan). 57 per cent of the funding received so far has been directed towards L3 response plans, yet at this stage there is no significant difference between funding coverage of L3 and other plans.
The two categories received 7 per cent and 9 per cent of requirements respectively.

Funding across appeals varies significantly, with only twelve of the 30 appeals receiving more than 8 per cent of requirements and with the majority receiving less than the global average or in some cases no funding at all (Honduras, Gambia, and the Sahel regional component).