OCHA Appeals for 46.4 bln USD to Humanitarian Aid
Sudan Events – Sumaya Sayed
The Office for the United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday appealed for 46.4 billion U.S. dollars to provide vital assistance and protection to 180.5 million people from 72 countries facing the devastating impact of armed conflicts, climate emergencies and economic collapse.
According to OCHA’s Global Humanitarian Overview, the Middle East and North African region require 13.9 billion dollars, the largest total for any region in 2024 and accounting for 30 percent of the total.
East and Southern Africa requires 10.9 billion dollars, while West and Central Africa calls for 8.3 billion dollars. Asia and the Pacific will require 5.5 billion dollars, Eastern Europe 4.1 billion dollars, and Latin America and the Caribbean 3.6 billion dollars.
According to the number of people in need and the depth of their need, the five largest country appeals in the OCHA overview include Syria calling for 4.4 billion dollars, Ukraine 3.1 billion dollars, Afghanistan 3 billion dollars, Ethiopia 2.9 billion dollars and Yemen 2.8 billion dollars.
Rising global conflicts, notably in Sudan and between Israel and Gaza in 2023, have led to a dramatic increase in civilian casualties, the OCHA overview said.
Internal displacement reached a record 71.1 million at the end of 2022, a 20 percent increase from the previous year.
He also said that 2023 is worrisome for humanitarian efforts because it’s likely the first time since 2010 that funding for humanitarian aid will go down instead of up.
In 2023, levels of displacement, acute food insecurity, and malnutrition reached historically high levels but by Nov. 24 of 2023, the humanitarian system received around 20 billion dollars, just 35 percent of the 57 billion dollars appealed in the Global Humanitarian Overview 2023.
