The United Nations, along with its humanitarian partners, has unveiled the 2026 global humanitarian appeal, allocating $64.9 million to assist 1.9 million vulnerable people in Pakistan.
The funding forms part of a sweeping $33 billion plan designed to save lives impacted by conflict, climate emergencies, epidemics, earthquakes and agricultural crises around the world.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the immediate goal of the appeal is to secure $23 billion to support 87 million people in urgent need.
The broader 2026 appeal — titled the Response Plan under the theme “Life by Life” — aims to reach 135 million people across 50 countries through 23 national operations and six regional plans focused on refugees and migrants.
UNOCHA highlighted that despite shrinking resources and growing threats to aid workers, 98 million people were assisted in 2025, illustrating the immense pressure under which humanitarian systems continue to operate.
A significant portion of the 2026 appeal focuses on regions facing extreme violence, displacement and destruction. The largest single-country requirement is for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where $4.1 billion is needed to support 3 million people enduring unprecedented levels of devastation.
In Sudan, which faces the world’s biggest displacement crisis, $2.9 billion is sought to aid 20 million people. Additionally, Syria accounts for the largest regional response plan, with $2.8 billion allocated to 8.6 million individuals.
The latest appeal comes after a year marked by steep funding shortfalls, severe operational challenges and tragic loss of humanitarian staff. Funding for the 2025 appeal reached only $12 billion — the lowest in a decade — resulting in 25 million fewer people receiving assistance compared to the previous year.
Over 320 aid workers, most of them local staff, were killed, underscoring the perils faced by those delivering lifesaving aid.
UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher said the 2026 overview emphasizes reform and local empowerment, directing more resources to frontline organisations and prioritising efficiency, hope and resilience in humanitarian action.
