The United Nations said it would be forced to review its aid plans for Somalia and Yemen this year due to a decline in global humanitarian funding, even as the needs in both countries remain at the same level.
At a press conference in New York, Stephanie Tremblay, a spokeswoman for the UN, said the organization had conducted a comprehensive review of its humanitarian response over the past two months.
She added that the unprecedented funding cuts to the humanitarian sector were forcing the agency and its partners to significantly reduce life-saving programs that are facing millions of lives around the world.
Ms. Tremblay stressed that their goal was to use the resources available in the two countries to ensure that the maximum amount of life-saving assistance reaches the most vulnerable.
She added that all the needs and responses outlined in the 2025 humanitarian plans are urgent and urgent, adding that if additional funding is available, the responses will be expanded to cover all targeted populations in need as originally planned.
“The consequences will be dire if we do not meet our targets,” Tremblay said, adding that millions of people will face acute hunger and lack access to clean water and other basic services.
She said that death and illness rates are expected to rise as health facilities close and diseases spread, as are other crises.
