• UN humanitarian chief launches a $23 billion appeal for 2026 amidst severe funding cuts.
• 240 million people are estimated to be in need of emergency aid worldwide, with particular focus on Gaza and Sudan.
• In 2025, UN humanitarian aid appeal was funded at only $12 billion, the lowest in a decade.
• The appeal aims to help 87 million lives through targeted assistance in 50 countries.
• UN officials emphasize a need for global solidarity and increased funding for humanitarian efforts.

The United Nations has officially launched a streamlined appeal for a **minimum of $23 billion** to address critical humanitarian needs in the year 2026, a move highlighting severe global funding cuts and a prevailing sense of **"apathy"** towards widespread suffering. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher characterized the current situation as **“a time of brutality, impunity, and indifference”**, adding that the humanitarian system is "overstretched, underfunded, and under attack," as he addressed reporters at UN headquarters in New York, according to SCMP and Dawn.

The UN faces significant challenges as **2025 saw record levels of hunger and disease outbreaks**, alongside substantial cuts to food budgets and health programs. The humanitarian chief noted that **only 20%** of their appeals were supported, and with **funding dropped to the lowest levels in a decade**, urgent needs persist for approximately **240 million** people globally. With an eye on critical areas like Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar, the UN aims to target funding effectively, according to Africanews.

In directly addressing the most pressing needs, the UN seeks **$4 billion** for the Palestinian territories to assist **three million** individuals and **$2.8 billion** for **20 million** people in Sudan due to ongoing conflict and displacement. **Fletcher** emphasized the devastating consequences faced by many, recounting harrowing stories from those affected, including an incident where a mother was forced to flee with a malnourished child after witnessing horrific violence, according to SCMP and Dawn.

Fletcher stated that the international community's response is critical and called for action, urging global leaders to reconsider their spending priorities. He pointed out that the world spent over **$2.7 trillion** on defense in the past year alone, suggesting a mere **1%** of that could cover the entire appeal. The UN hopes this plan could catalyze a stronger commitment to assist the **87 million** lives that depend on it, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for **solidarity** from all nations, as noted by Africanews.