UN Releases $160 Million to Support 12 Underfunded Humanitarian Crises

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Friday the release of $160 million to sustain humanitarian aid across 12 of the world's most underfunded crises, as UN officials emphasized the need for broader humanitarian access.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher stated that 87 million people facing the most severe crises need to be reached this year. While noting that the new funding aims to support vulnerable populations, Fletcher warned that financial resources alone are insufficient and urged global leaders to exercise political will to facilitate access and remove logistical obstacles.

According to OCHA, five of the 12 funded crises—Afghanistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen—represent areas requiring urgent diplomatic action to unlock aid for approximately 11 million individuals.

The majority of the funding, totaling $150 million, is drawn from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The allocations are distributed as follows:

• Afghanistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and Yemen: $18 million each
• Somalia and Sudan: $16 million each
• South Sudan: $15 million
• Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger: $10 million each
• Chad: $9 million
• Cameroon: $6 million
• Cuba: $4 million

An additional $10 million has been earmarked specifically to ensure aid accommodates people with disabilities across the 12 designated regions. CERF is partnering with the UN Global Disability Fund, which will contribute up to $4 million in additional funding and technical assistance via its Inclusion Catalyst Hub to strengthen local disability organizations.

Managed by OCHA, CERF allocates aid for underfunded emergencies based on consultations with partners and the evaluation of more than 100 humanitarian indicators. The latest disbursement brings CERF's total allocations for 2026 to $483 million. Since its establishment by the UN General Assembly in 2005, the fund has directed roughly $10.2 billion to more than 117 countries and territories, operating toward an annual funding target of $1 billion.

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