Source: UN News: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 00:01 AM
The United Nations has welcomed an additional $1.8 billion in humanitarian aid funding from the United States, bringing the total recent funding by the United States to $3.8 billion. This assistance comes at a time when aid agencies are facing severe funding shortages and growing global needs. At present about 23 crore 90 lakh people around the world are in need of help.United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the US aid announcement, saying the funding is critical for agencies that are “overburdened and under-resourced.” “This support will help save millions of lives,” Tom Fletcher said. Assistance has reached 14.4 million people. With the new funding, UN agencies aim to reach more than 22 million people, responding to 18 different global crises. So far, assistance has been provided to 6 million people, clean water to 14 million people and 690 health facilities. The funding also supports malnutrition treatment for more than 560,000 children and protection services for women. 779,000 families have been directly supported. Efficiency and future needs Tom Fletcher stressed that the humanitarian system is accelerating reforms to improve accountability, reduce bureaucracy and increase transparency through online monitoring. “Can deliver results even in challenging circumstances.” Despite this funding increase, a large gap remains. The UN’s 2026 humanitarian action plan requires $23 billion to assist 87 million people, meaning a large portion of the required budget still remains to be mobilized.