UN requests $51.5 billion in 2023 for humanitarian aid

According to UN forecasts, the coming year will be a “year of extremes.”

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To assist 230 million of the most vulnerable people in nearly 70 countries worldwide next year, the UN has requested $51.5 billion, which is 25 percent more than was requested at the beginning of 2022, said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on December 1 in Geneva.

He also reported that for 2023, the UN has requested $5.7 billion for Ukraine. This amount includes funding for humanitarian projects in the country and a regional plan to assist refugees.

“The war in Ukraine has turned part of Europe into a battlefield. More than 100 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced. And all this is happening against the backdrop of the devastating consequences of the pandemic, which has particularly affected the poorest populations,” said Martin Griffiths.

According to him, at least 222 million people will face acute food shortages in 53 countries by the end of this year, and in 2023, 45 million people in 37 countries are at risk of dying from hunger.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator stated that he believes it will be “very difficult” to raise the entire amount requested from donors, both countries and individuals. He explained that this year the UN was only able to secure 47% of the requested amount.