Humanitarians unveil hyper-prioritized appeal | Gaza: “Hunger must never be met with bullets" | Human cost of funding shortfalls

United Nations, OCHA
5 days ago
6 min read

Here are this week's top humanitarian news and stories:

UN and partners unveil hyper-prioritized humanitarian appeal amid brutal funding cuts

This week, the UN and our humanitarian partners launched a hyper-prioritized global appeal aiming to help 114 million people facing life-threatening needs across the world. The plan seeks US$29 billion in funding.

In the wake of the deepest funding cuts ever to hit the humanitarian sector, the appeal further prioritizes the most urgent needs, but does not replace, the Global Humanitarian Overview 2025 (GHO) launched last December. Read the Press Release.

“We have been forced into a triage of human survival. The math is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking. Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can with the resources we are given.” - Tom Fletcher , UN Relief Chief

Humanitarian partners have kept protection at the heart of the reprioritized response plans. They have focused on meeting the most urgent needs in ways that respect the dignity of affected people. This includes cash assistance where possible, allowing people to choose what they need most.

Help us reach the most vulnerable people with life-saving aid.

“Hunger must never be met with bullets,” says UN Relief Chief on Gaza aid attacks

Amid starvation and a growing likelihood of famine, attacks on civilians attempting to access food supplies continue, resulting in mass casualties.

“Hunger must never be met with bullets. Humanitarians must be allowed to do their work. Lifesaving aid must reach people in need, in line with humanitarian principles. We stand ready, as we have repeatedly emphasized, to deliver lifesaving aid at scale. Let us do our work.” - Tom Fletcher, UN Relief Chief

We reiterate that civilians must never be targeted, let alone those seeking food amid ongoing starvation.

People in Gaza are also desperate for clean water.

Relentless attacks have destroyed essential water facilities. The ban on fuel is making it impossible to provide water, depriving people of their most basic means to survive.

“Silence in the face of such suffering is complicity,” says our colleague on the ground.

Fuel is an immediate lifeline in Gaza right now. Without it, hospitals cannot keep people alive. Despite this, fuel is continuously being blocked, along with other life-saving supplies.

Read the latest humanitarian updates from Gaza and the West Bank.

Donate to help families in Gaza.

“Let’s get our collective priorities right,” urges UN Relief Chief

The 2025 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment is taking place from 18 to 20 June in Geneva. The theme this year is “Renewing global solidarity for humanity: saving lives, reducing suffering and mobilizing solutions for humanitarian action”.

The HAS provides a key opportunity for Member States, the United Nations system, humanitarian partners, development actors, and the private sector to discuss current and emerging humanitarian challenges and priority themes and share experiences and lessons learned.

UN Relief Chief issues call to action for protection and accountability for the people of Sudan

Tom Fletcher warned in a statement that Sudan has become a grim example of twin themes of this moment: indifference and impunity

“Again and again, the international community has said that we will protect the people of Sudan. The people of Sudan should ask us if, when and how we will start to deliver on that promise.”

Fletcher underscored that Sudan is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 30 million people – half the population – in need of life-saving aid. From Kordofan to Darfur, the war has left civilians trapped and starving, without the basics they need for their survival.

Indiscriminate shelling, drone attacks and other air strikes continue to kill, injure and displace people in staggering numbers.

He appealed for funding and accountability.

Afghanistan: Nearly half the population is at risk as funding dries up

Funding cuts are pushing Afghanistan’s humanitarian response to the brink, forcing life-saving services to shut down. Behind every suspended service is a family left without support.

⚠️ Hundreds of health facilities have shut down.

⚠️ Food aid has been reduced.

⚠️ Protection services for millions have halted.

After decades of war, disaster and disease, Afghans have been left exhausted and broken. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This week, the international community gathered for the Senior Officials Meeting on Afghanistan. With the urgent support of donors, humanitarians can continue to address hunger, malnutrition and life-threatening illness.

“Time and again in Afghanistan, we have seen how donor support can be the difference between life and death. The imperative for donors to maintain and deepen their support for the people of Afghanistan is as critical now as it was ten years ago.” - Humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan

While the meeting was underway, humanitarian organizations in the country issued a joint call urging the international community to not abandon the country. Read the full statement.

"Now is not the time to step back. It’s time to step in," stresses our colleague in Afghanistan, Katherine Carey.

The cost of funding shortfalls

🚨 Humanitarian support is disappearing – and people are paying the price.

Food assistance has been cut, leaving families without the support they rely on. Shelves and warehouses are empty, with no stock left to meet growing needs. There are no supplies available to respond to the next emergency.

This is the human cost when funding dries up and crises keep escalating.

Your support can make a difference. Give today. #InvestInHumanity

At Security Council, UN Deputy Relief Chief calls for sustained funding for Yemen

Joyce Msuya told the Security Council last week that despite an operating environment beset by multiple risks and serious challenges, humanitarian operations in Yemen continue to forge ahead, and humanitarians remain committed and engaged.

“Humanitarians are clearly doing their best, but our response is constrained by the lack of funding – and falls short of what the people of Yemen need.” - Joyce Msuya

She called on the Security Council to respond with scaled-up, flexible funding based on needs to sustain aid operations; take real action to see that the UN and other detained colleagues are released; and maintain unified support for efforts toward lasting peace.

NGOs ‘forced to scale back’ as Syria aid shrinks, Joyce Msuya warns at Security Council

UN Deputy Relief Chief told the Security Council on Tuesday that although the UN and its partners continue to do what they can to provide critical assistance to people in Syria with limited resources, more funding is needed to keep this work going.

“Nearly halfway through the year, our humanitarian appeal has received only $260 million – just 13% of the requirements for this period. At a time when NGOs have new opportunities to expand their activities across Syria, many are instead forced to scale back.”

Across the country, 16% of health facilities have suspended or reduced capacity due to funding cuts. Some two dozen safe spaces for women and girls have been shuttered, and an estimated 265,000 people will lose access to life-saving reproductive health services.

Msuya urged the Council to keep a strong focus on the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, which remains one of the largest in the world.

Amid mass displacement and limited funding in DR Congo, local humanitarians do all they can

Displacement is a relentless reality in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ongoing armed violence continues to force people from their homes – often more than once.

Two years ago, families in Nyiragongo, North Kivu, fled violence and sought safety in Goma.

Now, due to a surge in violence there, they have returned – only to find their health centres destroyed.

OCHA’s humanitarian funds driving system-wide change

From being pioneers in innovations to enabling faster and earlier action, OCHA’s Country and Regional Humanitarian Funds were gamechangers in 2024 – delivering faster, more people-centered, and more effective aid.

One example from Burkina Faso: With support from the Regional Humanitarian Fund, Rasmata can now grow nutritious crops, while Awa and Zalissa are rebuilding their lives after displacement by expanding their livestock and becoming financially independent.

Acute hunger deepens in South Sudan fuelled by conflict

Millions of people in South Sudan are caught in overlapping crises.

The impact of conflict is now deepening food insecurity, with over half of the population facing acute hunger.

More humanitarian updates & interesting reads to explore

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