The United Nations' primary humanitarian coordination body is set to reduce its global staff by 20%, impacting operations in over 60 nations. This decision comes as a result of significant funding reductions, leaving the agency with a deficit of approximately $60 million.
Tom Fletcher, the U.N. humanitarian chief, expressed concern in a recent communication, stating that the humanitarian sector was already facing considerable strain before these additional financial constraints.
While the specific nation responsible for the funding cuts was not explicitly named in Fletcher's message to staff at the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), indications suggest the United States is a primary factor.
Fletcher noted that OCHA's total budget for 2025 was around $430 million, with several nations reducing their contributions. He emphasized the historical significance of the United States as the largest humanitarian donor and a key contributor to OCHA's resources, providing roughly 20% of the budget, or $63 million, for 2025.
Previous administrations had channeled humanitarian aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development but had drastically curtailed crucial funding, which sustained numerous lives globally.
Fletcher stated that current projections indicate a funding gap of nearly $58 million, with anticipated expenditures reaching $258.5 million.
Despite escalating humanitarian needs, OCHA reports that these budget cuts are already impeding access to vital aid. Partner organizations are also experiencing significant hardship, with local entities particularly affected, followed by international groups and U.N. agencies.
In response to the funding shortfall, OCHA intends to streamline its operations and reduce administrative overhead. This will involve decreasing senior-level positions at the U.N. headquarters and in several regional and country offices.
OCHA will decrease its activities in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Gaziantep (Turkey), and Zimbabwe, among other locations.