Cutting Aid, Struggling to Feed
Drastic reductions necessary for UN emergency aid agency's budget.
Swiss City (dpa) - Due to drastic financial shortages, the UN Emergency Relief Office (OCHA) has been forced to scrap its plans for humanitarian aid to millions worldwide. In a shocking turn, funds for international aid have taken an unexpected nosedive, with the office reporting historic lows. Not only the US, but also a multitude of countries have drastically slashed their budgets for global aid.
Originally expected to receive a whopping 44 billion dollars for the entire year (approximately 38 billion euros) as outlined in December, they are now eyeing a measly 29 billion dollars instead. However, the future of this sum remains uncertain, given the poor fundraising results in June, where just 5.6 billion dollars were amassed. Instead of being able to support a staggering 180 million people, only 114 million are projected to receive assistance should the funds actually materialize.
While OCHA refrains from naming and shaming countries, it is vital to ensure that the most destitute continue to receive aid from OCHA initiatives across the globe.
Insight: Although no specific countries were pinpointed in the report, the UN Emergency Relief Office has faced severe funding cuts in 2025, with UN organizations and partners forced to downsize their aid plans due to "the deepest funding cuts ever" [1][3][4]. Yet, the data does not provide a definitive list of affected countries or donor nations for 2021.
References
[1] Oxfam International, 2025. "World in Disarray: The Human Cost of a Failed Global Order."
[2] humanitarianaction.info, 2025. "Global Humanitarian Overview 2025"
[3] The United Nations, 2025. "Millions Face Starvation as Funding Crisis Rages"
[4] World Food Programme, 2025. "WFP Warns of Catastrophe in Many Countries as Funding Gap Widens"
- The historic low funding for international aid has raised concerns in the industry and finance sectors, as well as in the general-news, due to the potential impact on millions of people worldwide.
- The drastic cuts in aid budgets by various countries, including the US, have affected not only humanitarian organizations such as the UN Emergency Relief Office but also the business community, given their role in global development.
- The future of political stability and economic growth in several countries could be at risk if the funding crisis for humanitarian aid continues, highlighting the interconnectedness of finance, business, politics, and general-news.
