UN agency cuts aid appeal for 2026 to $33 bn due to reduction in annual support

The UN's humanitarian aid coordination office is downsizing its appeal for an-nual funding in 2026 after support this year, mostly from Western govern-ments, plunged to the lowest level in a decade.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Monday it was seeking $33 billion to help some 135 million people cope with fallout from wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics and food short-ages.

This year, it took in $15 billion, the lowest level in a decade. The office says next year it wants more than $4.1 billion to reach 3 million people in Palestini-an areas, another $2.9 billion for Sudan — home to the world's largest dis-placement crisis — and $2.8 billion for a regional plan around Syria.

“In 2025, hunger surged. Food budgets were slashed — even as famines hit parts of Sudan and Gaza. Health systems broke apart," said OCHA chief Tom Fletcher.

"Disease outbreaks spiked. Millions went without essential food, healthcare and protection. Programs to protect women and girls were slashed, hundreds of aid organizations shut."