“Humanitarian diplomacy more critical than ever today to protect and serve people in need” [EN/AR]

United Nations and humanitarian partners launch $47 billion appeal for 2025 to support 190 million people worldwide

(Kuwait, 4 December 2024) An estimated 305 million people around the world will require humanitarian assistance in the coming year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today, launching the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) for 2025.

The appeal launched simultaneously in three locations – Kuwait City, Geneva and Nairobi – seeks $47 billion to provide life-saving aid in 32 countries and nine refugee-hosting regions.

The event in Kuwait focused on strengthening diplomatic engagement to enhance responses to humanitarian crises.

“The Global Humanitarian Overview for 2025 shows the scale of the challenges and suffering facing the international community,” said His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber AlAhmad AlSabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. He added, “At the same time, it is an opportunity to advance international humanitarian action by strengthening cooperation between all parties involved in these noble efforts, including donor and recipient member states, and international and regional humanitarian organizations, to bring about real change on the ground and improve the mechanisms in place to deliver humanitarian and relief assistance to those in need.”

Joyce Msuya, the Assistant-Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator said, “The world is gripped by one of the worst humanitarian crises of the modern era.” She added, “Humanitarian diplomacy has never been more critical. It mobilizes resources, amplifies the voices of the most vulnerable, and fosters dialogue to ensure aid reaches those in their darkest hour.”

Armed conflicts are intensifying in frequency and brutality, forcing nearly 123 million people to flee their homes. Climate-induced disasters are ravaging communities, devastating food systems and driving mass displacement. Meanwhile, older crises remain unresolved, with the average humanitarian appeal now spanning a decade.

The GHO for 2025 outlines carefully prioritized response plans, uniting over 2,000 humanitarian partners to provide critical assistance to 190 million people. Despite donors’ longstanding generosity, funding shortfalls persist.

As of the end of November, only 43 per cent of the $50 billion appeal for this year had been met. The consequences of this underfunding are stark: 2024 saw an 80 per cent reduction in food assistance in Syria; cuts to protection services in Myanmar; diminished water and sanitation aid in cholera-prone Yemen; and unimaginable humanitarian suffering in Gaza.

However, the single most important barrier for assisting and protecting people in armed conflicts is widespread violation of international humanitarian law. 2024 is already the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, surpassing last year’s death toll of 280. The vast majority of casualties are national aid workers.

Yet, despite these challenges, humanitarian agencies reached nearly 116 million people in 2024, delivering vital food, shelter, healthcare, education and protection services.

For further information, please contact:

• Jaspreet Kindra (OCHA New York), kindra@un.org, +1 917 367 2041