Aid cuts by some of the world’s biggest donors are leaving millions of people without help, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warns. By the end of June, only $6 billion had been given for humanitarian work this year—down from $9 billion at the same point in 2024. The UN says $44 billion is needed for 2025, but the money just isn’t coming in, according to a press release.
Last month, the UN rolled out a “hyper-prioritised” plan to try to reach the most at-risk people. But even this plan only covers 114 million out of 300 million people in need. That leaves nearly 200 million without support.
Jan Egeland from NRC says, “Even those targeted by the new plan may not get what they need. We need more countries and private groups to step up. Development banks should also help more in places hit by crisis, so displaced people and local communities can get support.”
The impact is clear. In Mozambique, aid groups are scaling back after US funding stopped, even though Japan is now the biggest donor. In Afghanistan, the US has slashed its aid, forcing groups like NRC to make tough choices about who they can help. Egeland says, “We’re not alone. Many groups are cutting back just as more families return and need urgent help.”
This pattern is playing out across the world as other priorities take over. Egeland urges wealthy countries to step up before more lives are lost.
“If we can afford World Cups and global summits, we can afford to help the world’s most vulnerable when they need it most,” he says.
