U.N. emergency relief chief warns funding cuts force ‘calculated regrouping,’ says millions face reduced aid

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations emergency relief coordinator and under‑secretary‑general for humanitarian affairs, told reporters at a U.N. press briefing that sharp funding cuts have forced the humanitarian system to “make a calculated regrouping” and prioritize saving as many lives as possible with far fewer resources.

Fletcher said more than 300 million people worldwide currently need humanitarian support and described the pace and scale of funding reductions as a “seismic shock” to the sector. “We will have to save as many people as we can with the money we have, not the money that we had nor the money that we would like,” he said.

The coordinator said the sector’s priorities will change as agencies and local partners submit revised plans. “I’ll receive at the end of this week… detailed plans from all of our humanitarian coordinators,” he said, referring to country teams that combine U.N. agencies, non‑governmental organizations and local partners. Fletcher also pointed to a 10‑point plan posted by the Inter‑Agency Standing Committee (IASC) as part of a broader push to improve efficiency and prioritize lifesaving operations.

Nut graf: The shifts Fletcher…