By Ayomide Otitoju
The United States will pledge $2 billion for United Nations humanitarian aid in 2026, a State Department source confirmed to AFP on Monday — significantly lower than in previous years.
UN data shows that while the US remains the world’s top humanitarian donor, its contributions have fallen sharply, from over $14 billion in 2022 and around $11 billion in 2023–2024 to $2.7 billion in 2025.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher launched the 2026 Global Humanitarian Appeal earlier this month, requesting $23 billion to assist 87 million of the world’s most vulnerable people, with a focus on crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, and Myanmar. He stressed that the appeal involved “excruciating life-and-death choices” and urged Washington to renew its commitment, noting reforms to improve aid efficiency.
The UN emphasized that the smaller appeal does not reflect reduced need. An estimated 240 million people worldwide — affected by conflict, disease, natural disasters, and climate change — require emergency aid.
In 2025, the UN’s $45 billion appeal received only $12 billion, the lowest level of funding in a decade, limiting assistance to 98 million people, 25 million fewer than the previous year.
