The United Nations has appealed for more than $47 billion in aid, claiming that the “world is on fire.”
The declaration, made by U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, addresses so-called climate change and ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
“We are dealing with a poly-crisis right now globally, and it is the most vulnerable people in the world who are paying the price,” Fletcher said, warning that a “perfect storm” was at hand as nations wrestle with weather, conflict, and inequality, according to AFP.
Fletcher said that “donor fatigue” has plagued humanitarian operations and called for a “realistic” plan for aid.
“We’ve got to be absolutely focused on reaching those in the most dire need, and really ruthless,” he stated.
Reuters reported that the U.N. cut its 2024 appeal to $46 billion from $56 billion. The United States has given more than $10 billion.
The request for aid comes as former United Nations officials have created “DOGE-UN,” an effort targeting the organization’s waste.
Hugh Dugan, a former National Security Council advisor and a U.S. delegate to the U.N. between 1989-2015, asked Fox News, “Why stop at this country’s federal agencies?”
“We need to centralize our understanding of our cash flow to and from the U.N. and the results we’d like to see from our participation in international organizations,” he said.
