The United Nations has released $160 million in emergency funding to support life-saving humanitarian operations in 12 severely underfunded crises across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, as conflict, displacement and worsening humanitarian needs continue to leave millions dependent on international assistance.
The funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) comes as the world body seeks to reach 87 million people facing the most severe humanitarian needs in 2026. The latest allocation is particularly significant for Africa and the Middle East, where prolonged conflicts and displacement have placed enormous pressure on humanitarian systems already struggling with inadequate funding.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said the new funding would help reach people who risk being overlooked as humanitarian resources become increasingly stretched.
“We have 87 million people to reach, and no time to waste,” Fletcher said. “Today’s new funding will help us get aid to people who might otherwise be left behind.”
He, however, warned that funding alone would not resolve the humanitarian crisis, calling for greater political action to ensure aid workers can reach vulnerable populations.
“Leaders must exercise political will to open access, remove obstacles and help us reach people whose lives are on the line,” he said.
Africa carries a major humanitarian burden
Africa accounts for a substantial share of the new funding, reflecting the scale and persistence of humanitarian needs across the continent.The UN has allocated $16 million to Somalia, $15 million to South Sudan, $16 million to Sudan, $10 million each to Mali and Niger, $10 million to Burkina Faso, $9 million to Chad and $6 million to Cameroon.
The allocations target some of the continent’s most fragile humanitarian environments, where armed conflict, displacement, food insecurity and limited access to basic services continue to affect vulnerable communities.
Sudan and South Sudan are among the countries identified by Fletcher as requiring urgent diplomatic action to secure humanitarian access. The prolonged conflict in Sudan has triggered large-scale displacement and severe humanitarian needs, while South Sudan continues to face overlapping pressures from conflict, displacement, food insecurity and climatic shocks.
In the Sahel, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad face complex humanitarian challenges linked to insecurity, displacement and weak access to essential services. The new CERF funding is intended to sustain immediate life-saving assistance in communities where humanitarian operations remain severely underfunded.
Somalia, meanwhile, continues to face humanitarian pressures despite international efforts to strengthen resilience and recovery.
Middle East remains a critical humanitarian front
The Occupied Palestinian Territory and Yemen will each receive $18 million, among the largest individual allocations under the package.
The funding comes amid continuing humanitarian concerns in the Middle East, where conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access have made it difficult for aid agencies to respond to rapidly changing needs.
The Occupied Palestinian Territory is among the five crises highlighted by Fletcher as requiring urgent diplomatic action to facilitate humanitarian access. The other four are Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen.
Together, these five crises account for 11 million of the 87 million people identified as requiring priority humanitarian assistance this year, according to the UN.
The UN’s appeal for greater humanitarian access reflects a broader challenge facing international relief operations: funding must be accompanied by the ability of humanitarian organisations to safely reach populations in need.
Afghanistan receives $18 million
In Asia, Afghanistan will receive $18 million, placing it alongside Yemen and the Occupied Palestinian Territory among the largest recipients of the latest allocation.
Afghanistan continues to face significant humanitarian needs, with vulnerable communities requiring assistance with food, health, shelter and other essential services.
The UN has also identified Afghanistan as requiring urgent diplomatic engagement to help remove obstacles to humanitarian operations.
The allocation demonstrates the geographical spread of the current humanitarian crisis, with needs extending from Africa and the Middle East to South and Central Asia.
Disability inclusion added to emergency response
The latest CERF package also contains $10 million specifically aimed at addressing the urgent needs of people with disabilities across the 12 crises.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the UN Global Disability Fund, which will provide up to an additional $4 million in complementary funding and technical support through its Inclusion Catalyst Hub.
The partnership will also seek to strengthen the participation and capacity of local organisations representing people with disabilities in humanitarian responses.
This marks an effort to make emergency assistance more accessible to groups that can face additional barriers during conflict, displacement and natural disasters.
CERF funding reaches $483 million in 2026
The latest allocation brings total CERF funding released so far in 2026 to $483 million.
CERF, managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is designed to provide rapid funding for emergencies and crises that struggle to attract sufficient donor support.
Funding decisions are based on an analysis of more than 100 humanitarian indicators, alongside consultations with humanitarian partners.
The latest release underscores the growing gap between humanitarian needs and available resources. While the $160 million will enable aid agencies to deliver urgent assistance, the UN says sustained political action and humanitarian access will remain essential to reaching millions of people facing some of the world’s most severe crises.
