UN Humanitarian Efforts on Verge of Collapse, Warns Guterres
El Fasher: The United Nations’ humanitarian operations are facing a severe funding crisis even as global needs reach unprecedented levels, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on the UN80 Initiative, Guterres said the UN’s humanitarian system is “on the brink of collapse” and called for “bold, systemic change” to ensure faster, more cost-effective, and reliable assistance for people in crisis.
To achieve this, the UN has launched a New Humanitarian Compact — a six-point plan aimed at improving delivery, restoring trust in multilateral efforts, and maximizing the impact of every dollar spent. The Compact includes a Collaborative Humanitarian Diplomacy Initiative to strengthen coordination and unify the UN’s messaging and negotiation efforts.
Guterres outlined several key reforms, including:
Reducing bureaucracy by simplifying response plans and coordination structures.
Integrating supply chains across humanitarian agencies for joint procurement, shared logistics, and pooled transport.
Expanding common services, such as office space, fleets, and security arrangements, to improve efficiency and cut costs.
He emphasized that while agencies should maintain autonomy in their specialized areas, “everything that is common should be done together” to improve efficiency and reduce expenses.
The Secretary-General also highlighted the UN’s efforts to enhance data-driven decision-making, minimize overlaps in key sectors such as food, health, and mobility, and deliver more targeted and dignified aid.
As part of the UN80 Initiative, the UN has identified cost reductions of over 15% in its proposed 2026 budget and about 19% in staff posts, aiming to streamline operations without compromising quality or mandates.
However, the funding shortfall remains alarming. The UN appealed for $45.3 billion to meet global humanitarian needs in 2025, but by the end of September, had received only $9.6 billion — just 21% of the requirement — marking a 40% decline compared to the same period last year.
