New york: The United Nations and its partners have initiated a USD 33 billion humanitarian appeal aimed at aiding 135 million individuals across 50 countries in 2026. The ambitious plan was announced in a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), titled "Global Humanitarian Overview 2026". This initiative comes after a challenging year marked by significant reductions in humanitarian operations and a record number of attacks on aid workers.
According to Kuwait News Agency, UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher emphasized the urgency of the appeal, stating that it outlines the immediate areas where global efforts should be concentrated. The goal is to protect millions of individuals in regions severely impacted by conflict, climate-related disasters, earthquakes, pandemics, and agricultural failures. Fletcher highlighted the previous year's shortcomings, noting that the 2025 appeal secured only USD 12 billion, the lowest in ten years, which enabled aid workers to assist 25 million people, fewer than in 2024.
The 2026 report from OCHA details 29 response plans, with the largest allocation of USD 4.1 billion designated for the occupied Palestinian territory, targeting support for nearly three million people. In Sudan, identified as the world's largest displacement crisis, USD 2.9 billion is required to assist 20 million people. Additionally, the most substantial regional plan is for Syria, requiring USD 2.8 billion to aid 8.6 million people, as per OCHA.