The equation is stark and unforgiving: as the number of individuals facing hunger and hardship globally continues to rise, the financial contributions from the world’s wealthiest nations to assist them are declining. Consequently, the United Nations estimates that it will only be able to secure enough funding to aid approximately 60% of the 307 million individuals projected to require humanitarian assistance next year. This implies that at least 117 million people will lack access to food and other essential services in 2025. As 2024 comes to a close, the UN has raised only about 46% of the $49.6 billion it sought for humanitarian aid worldwide, according to its own data. This marks the second consecutive year that the organization has gathered less than half of its required funding. This deficit has compelled humanitarian agencies to make difficult decisions, such as reducing food rations for those in need and limiting the number of individuals eligible for assistance. The impact of these funding shortages is evident in regions like Syria, where the World Food Program (WFP), the UN’s primary food distributor, previously provided aid to 6 million people. Due to anticipated shortfalls in donations, the WFP has revised its target, now aiming to assist only about 1 million individuals in Syria, as noted by Rania Dagash-Kamara, the organization’s assistant executive director for partnerships and resource mobilization. During her visit to WFP staff in Syria in March, Dagash-Kamara reported that the team expressed, “We are at this point taking from the hungry to feed the starving.” UN officials express little hope for improvement amid ongoing conflicts, political instability, and extreme weather, all of which contribute to food shortages. Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, stated, “We have been forced to scale back appeals to those in most dire need,” in an interview with pakish
The Funding Gap
Conflict, extreme weather, and rising inflation have resulted in an increasing number of people requiring humanitarian aid. Simultaneously, the disparity between the funding the UN seeks for humanitarian relief and the actual contributions from donors is widening. Financial constraints and changing domestic political landscapes are influencing the decisions of some affluent nations regarding their aid contributions. For instance, Germany, one of the UN’s largest donors, has already reduced its funding by $500 million from 2023 to 2024 as part of broader budget cuts. The German cabinet has proposed an additional $1 billion reduction in humanitarian aid for 2025, pending a decision from a new parliament after the federal elections in February. Humanitarian organizations are also closely monitoring the approach of US President-elect Donald Trump as he begins his second term in January. Although Trump’s advisers have not disclosed his plans for humanitarian aid, his first term included attempts to cut US funding, and he has appointed advisers who advocate for reductions in foreign aid. The United States plays a crucial role in combating global hunger, having provided $64.5 billion in humanitarian assistance over the past five years, accounting for at least 38% of total contributions reported by the UN.
Sharing the Wealth
The majority of humanitarian funding comes from three wealthy donors: the US, Germany, and the European Commission, which collectively contributed 58% of the $170 billion reported by the UN in response to crises from 2020 to 2024. In contrast, China, Russia, and India together contributed less than 1% of UN-tracked humanitarian funding during the same period, according to a Reuters analysis of UN contribution data. The persistent inability to bridge the funding gap is a significant factor straining the global system for addressing hunger and preventing famine. The combination of insufficient funding and logistical challenges in assessing needs and delivering food aid in conflict-affected areas complicates efforts to provide adequate assistance to those in need. In 2023, approximately 282 million people across 59 countries and territories faced high levels of acute food insecurity. Reuters is documenting these issues through a series of reports from severely affected regions, including Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. The failure of major nations to fulfill their funding responsibilities has been a recurring theme of criticism from Trump. His Project 2025, a set of policy recommendations for his second term, urges humanitarian agencies to intensify efforts to secure funding from other sources, suggesting that this should be a prerequisite for additional US aid. While campaigning, Trump attempted to distance himself from the controversial Project 2025 framework. However, after his election victory, he appointed Russell Vought, a key architect of the proposal, to lead the US Office of Management and Budget, a powerful agency that influences presidential priorities and funding decisions. For the position of secretary of state, Trump selected Florida Senator Marco Rubio, known for his support of foreign aid. Project 2025 specifically highlights conflict as a primary driver of many current hunger crises. The blueprint argues that humanitarian aid
