UN flags funding shortfalls and displacement across Syria, Sudan and the DRC
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Summary
The UN said Syria's $3.2 billion humanitarian plan is only a quarter funded, partners are reaching hundreds of thousands monthly despite shortages, and aid operations in Darfur and Ituri are strained by conflict and funding cuts, leaving large displaced populations at risk.
The United Nations reported multiple humanitarian crises across the Middle East and Africa and warned that funding shortfalls and access challenges are undermining relief work.
On Syria, the spokesperson said the humanitarian needs and response plan totals roughly $3.2 billion but is only about one quarter funded, leaving approximately $778 million on hand; despite that, assistance reaches more than 350,000 people every month, with the World Food Programme delivering about 400 metric tons of flour weekly and UNICEF helping to rehabilitate schools.
In Sudan, UN relief coordinator Tom Fletcher has been traveling in the Darfur region, meeting families displaced by fighting in and around El Fasher; the briefing said nearly 100,000 people were displaced from El Fasher in recent weeks and urged accountability for atrocities and protection of civilians.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, partners reported rapidly deteriorating conditions across more than 60 displacement sites in Ituri province after October funding cuts forced camp-management activities to halt; the spokesperson said authorities estimate more than one million people remain displaced in Ituri and urged donors and international partners to mobilize resources for life-saving activities.
The briefing also flagged an FAO report estimating roughly $99 billion in annual agricultural losses from disasters worldwide and pointed to digital transformation and tools such as AI and remote sensing as important for disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action.