Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The United Nations has announced a comprehensive review of its relief plans in Somalia and Yemen for 2025 as a result of significant reductions in global humanitarian funding, despite the persistent humanitarian needs in both countries. The organization clarified that these adjustments come within the framework of the plan by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, to recalibrate humanitarian work.
Stéphanie Tremblay, from the UN Spokesperson’s Office, stated during a press conference in New York that the unprecedented funding cuts are forcing the UN and its partners to reduce vital life-saving programs, putting millions of people in crisis areas at risk.
According to the new plan, aid in Somalia will target only 1.3 million people, a decrease of more than 70% compared to the previous target of 4.6 million people, with the budget reduced from $1.4 billion to about $367 million. In Yemen, the plan has been adjusted to allocate $1.4 billion to support 8.8 million people, compared to $2.4 billion in the original plan.
Tremblay emphasized that this reduction does not reflect a decrease in humanitarian needs but is a necessary measure to ensure that limited resources are directed to the most vulnerable groups. She added that all the needs announced in the 2025 plans remain existing and urgent, and that any additional funding will be used to expand the scope of the humanitarian response.
The UN official warned of dire consequences if the funding shortage continues, noting that millions of people will face the risk of severe hunger, lack of clean water, education, and protection, in addition to increased mortality and disease rates due to the closure of health facilities and the spread of epidemics, as happened in previous crises.
