New York, United States – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has secured $8.7 billion in funding for its 2026 plan. This leaves a $14.3 billion gap still required to save 87 million people facing severe humanitarian crises worldwide.
Okay News reports that Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday. The UN is seeking to raise a total of $23 billion for its immediate priority plan, which represents about one-third of the broader $33 billion Global Humanitarian Overview budget.
Fletcher noted that while the initial response has been encouraging, the remaining shortfall could have devastating consequences if not addressed urgently. The humanitarian community has received extraordinary backing from several governments despite global financial pressures.
Of the $8.7 billion total, $5 billion has already been received. This includes $810 million in unrestricted funding that allows for rapid deployment to areas of greatest need. Key donors include the United States, the European Commission, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The hyper-prioritised plan will be delivered by approximately 2,000 humanitarian organizations. Over 60% of these are local partners. Despite security hurdles, the UN reached over seven million people in January alone, including nearly two million in Sudan.
To bridge the funding gap, the UN is expanding sources beyond government coffers. So far, $60 million has been raised from foundations, corporations, and individuals. The UN plans to launch a global public campaign to involve the tech sector and private businesses.
Fletcher warned that governments alone cannot carry the full financial weight of responding to this global crisis. The UN has struggled to raise adequate funds in recent years. In June 2025, the global appeal was scaled back to $29 billion, down from an original target of $44 billion.
For 2026, budgets have been slashed even further. The UN cut its humanitarian request to $23 billion, roughly half of what was sought in 2025, as donor fatigue grows. This austerity comes at a precarious time. In January 2026, the United States pulled out of 31 UN bodies, continuing a trend of significant funding cuts.
