Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, announced today that approximately 300 million people globally require humanitarian assistance.
However, funding for these operations has reached only about 17% of the necessary amount to support just over half of these individuals.
In a statement released by the UN Information Center, Griffiths emphasized that the world is currently facing a dire situation, marked by a significant lack of political diplomacy and rampant impunity.
He highlighted the severe underfunding of several critical crises. For instance, the humanitarian response plan for Syria is funded at just 6%, while Sudan’s plan is funded at 15%.
Griffiths pointed out that global attention is primarily focused on major crises such as those in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, regions like Syria, Yemen, and Haiti continue to endure significant suffering with insufficient support.
He also stressed that impunity for the use of weapons has never been as widespread as it is now.
The recent Security Council resolution on the protection of civilians, although positive, comes at a time when deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities is rampant, and numerous UNRWA staff members are being killed, facing the potential misclassification of their organization as a terrorist entity.
Griffiths expressed pride in the humanitarian workers on the ground who are performing heroic tasks.
He noted the impossibility of planning an effective humanitarian response in Gaza under the current conditions, emphasizing that the residents are not living in circumstances conducive to such efforts.
“Humanitarian workers lack the capacity to deliver services on a large scale, or even on a smaller scale, in Rafah and the central region,” he said.
He expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement, which the UN has long called for, would prioritize humanitarian operations and the needs of humanitarian workers to fulfill their duties.
This includes the release of hostages and detainees.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator highlighted the urgent need for safer routes, better access, and clearer guidelines on ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers.
He concluded by stating that the areas experiencing the worst suffering are also where “the most exceptional humanity” is displayed.
