The United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has committed $110 million to support neglected humanitarian crises across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as global aid funding continues to decline.
Tom Fletcher, the UN's top aid official, emphasized that over 300 million people urgently require assistance, yet funding levels have reached historic lows.
"Severe funding cuts don't eliminate humanitarian needs. This emergency allocation ensures swift intervention in the most vulnerable regions," Fletcher stated.
Countries and Key Focus Areas
According to Fletcher, one-third of the allocated funds will be directed toward Sudan and Chad, which currently shelters thousands of displaced Sudanese.
Other beneficiary nations include Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Honduras, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Venezuela, and Zambia. Part of the funding will also be used for initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from climate shocks.
UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Impact on Children
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that reduced international aid is severely restricting the organization's ability to reach millions of at-risk children.
"Millions of children affected by conflict require urgent vaccinations against diseases like measles and polio, education, and healthcare. These cuts are creating a funding crisis that will put additional lives at risk," she stressed.
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Despite operational efficiencies and innovations, Russell noted that rising needs are outpacing available resources. Since 2000, global under-five mortality has dropped by 50%, a feat largely attributed to sustained humanitarian efforts. She urged donors to continue supporting critical child-focused programs.
Afghanistan's Deepening Crisis
Providing insight into one of the most affected regions, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric highlighted Afghanistan's worsening humanitarian situation, exacerbated by decades of conflict, poverty, and climate-related disasters.
More than 23 million Afghans—over half the country's population—require urgent humanitarian assistance. The Taliban's continued rule since 2021 has heightened protection risks, particularly for women and girls.
Alarming Malnutrition and Security Threats
The UN reports that nearly 3.5 million children under five, along with over a million pregnant and breastfeeding women, are at risk of acute malnutrition in Afghanistan.
Additionally, unexploded ordnance continues to pose deadly risks, with an estimated 55 civilians—mostly children—killed or injured each month.
Dujarric cautioned that the current funding shortfall is significantly limiting humanitarian efforts, underscoring the urgent need for increased global support.
