The United Nations issued an appeal on Monday for $46 billion in funding for 2024 to address humanitarian crises worldwide, including in the occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, and Ukraine.
According to Reuters, the Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024, presented by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted the need for assistance for nearly 300 million people affected by conflicts, climate emergencies, and economic challenges.
U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths emphasized a specific focus on addressing the needs of 181 million individuals, acknowledging the severe funding crisis facing the humanitarian system, with only one-third of the $57 billion required for aid funded last year.
“We will target for our specific needs, for the agencies that I represent, 181 million of those 300,” said U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths.
Griffiths identified the Middle East, particularly Gaza and the West Bank, as an area of critical need, while emphasizing the desperate situation in Ukraine, anticipating a resurgence of conflict in the coming year.
“I think the Middle East as a whole and Gaza and West Bank in probably going to be the area of greatest need,” Griffiths said.
“But Ukraine is going through desperate times and a war that will restart in full swing next year. It will need a lot of attention,” he said.
