Why in News?
For 2026, the United Nations has halved its emergency humanitarian aid budget due to major foreign aid cuts by the US and European donors. This raises questions about what the UN’s emergency humanitarian budget is and why it is vital for global crises.
Description:
What is the UN’s Emergency Humanitarian Budget?
- It is not a fixed budget, but an annual appeal made by the UN to donor countries to finance urgent lifesaving operations.
- Funds are used for:
- Emergency food supply
- Shelter and water
- Vaccinations & medical services
- Refugee support & displacement camps
- Protection services for women and children
- It covers global crises like Somalia famine relief, Yemen conflict response, Afghan humanitarian support, and disaster aftermaths.
- The emergency budget is entirely dependent on donor willingness → hence highly vulnerable during geopolitical or economic shifts.
Facts:
- 2025 Appeal: USD 47 billion.
- 2026 Appeal: Reduced to $23 billion (≈ 50% cut).
- Expected beneficiaries reduce to 87 million people (much lower than earlier years).
- Cuts reflect failure to meet the 2025 fundraising target and shrinking donor aid budgets.
Why Was the UN Emergency Budget Halved?
- Major Donor Cuts: The US cut around $1 billion and pulled support from several UN agencies; the UK, Netherlands and Sweden also reduced foreign aid to prioritise domestic needs like defence.
- Voluntary Funding Weakness: UN emergency aid depends almost entirely on voluntary contributions, creating overdependence on the US and Europe.
- Rising Crises, Falling Donations: Humanitarian needs in places like Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan are growing, but donor willingness to fund them is shrinking.
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