A new report published by the United Nations on Monday has said, that by 2024, 300 million people across 72 countries will need humanitarian assistance as climate change, displacement and conflict push more people to the brink of famine.
In a solemn plea disclosed in its Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024, the UN is urgently seeking a substantial $46 billion in funding to address the escalating humanitarian crises gripping numerous regions worldwide. Among the areas requiring critical assistance are the occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, and Ukraine, based on reports by Reuter Africa.
Martin Griffiths, the UN’s aid chief, articulated the imperative to target 181 million of the projected 300 million in need, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. OCHA’s annual assessment underscores a substantial funding crisis, with just over one-third of the $57 billion required for aid provision secured in the preceding year, marking a critical shortfall.
Griffiths characterized this financial gap as the “worst funding shortfall in years,” acknowledging the difficulty in scaling down the appeal for 2024 while concurrently ensuring that aid agencies adopt a realistic, focused, and resolute approach when evaluating requirements.
The Middle East, particularly Gaza and the West Bank, is anticipated to be a focal point for aid efforts, with Griffiths expressing the expectation that this region will register the highest demand. Simultaneously, he underscored the exigency of directing attention to Ukraine, beset by desperate times and a looming resurgence of full-scale conflict in the coming year, necessitating substantial aid interventions.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Griffiths highlighted that various organizations, including the Red Cross and national Red Cross societies, have initiated their funding appeals to collectively address the widespread humanitarian challenges confronting the global community.
