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Guterres warns donor cuts have squeezed humanitarian response in Africa despite secretariat budgeting choices
Summary
Antonio Guterres said the U.N. secretariat tried to protect African operations in its budget but that major donor cuts to humanitarian funding, including a notable reduction in U.S. contributions, have left humanitarian agencies under-resourced.
In response to questions about budget reductions, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.N. secretariat was "very careful in the budget of the secretariat to spare the African continent" and that this was done because needs in Africa are large. He told reporters that while the secretariat tried to protect African operations, humanitarian aid delivered by donors has suffered dramatic cuts.
Guterres singled out a significant reduction in U.S. assistance (referring to cuts in USAID funding as a major factor) and said several other countries, including in Europe, also reduced their contributions. The consequence, he said, is a dramatic situation for many U.N. operations in Africa that now lack the resources to respond to basic needs.
Drawing on his own experience as former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Guterres said colleagues now "have to work with half the resources I had at that time" while facing larger refugee caseloads, calling the situation "extremely, extremely painful."
He did not announce any new funding commitments at the press conference; his remarks were a description of current budgetary pressures and an appeal to donors and member states.
