Latest news with #GlobalHumanitarianOverview
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Underfunded And Under Fire: World Vision NZ Calls On Govt To Safeguard Humanitarians Amid Rising Threats And Aid Cuts
On World Humanitarian Day (19 August), World Vision New Zealand is hosting a Parliamentary Breakfast at Parliament in Wellington to bring together Members of Parliament, diplomats, NGOs, and faith leaders to honour the lives and work of humanitarian workers globally and to urge Parliamentarians to more strongly commit to New Zealand's aid efforts. 2025 is set to be one of the deadliest years for humanitarian aid workers - 248 aid workers have been killed in some of the world's most dangerous contexts, including Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Myanmar Humanitarians face historic funding shortfalls with a 40% drop in funding2 World Vision NZ calling on Government to prioritise vulnerable children by committing to a roadmap to reach 0.5% of Gross National Income for Official Development Assistance by 2030 As humanitarian needs reach unprecedented levels across the globe, this year's World Humanitarian Day (19 August), is honouring humanitarian workers killed and injured in the line of duty, while calling for urgent action to protect, fund, and support humanitarians. A triple crisis is confronting the humanitarian sector: record levels of violence against aid workers, historic funding shortfalls, and a crisis of legitimacy that threatens the future of humanitarian action. This year is shaping up to be the deadliest year for humanitarian personnel on record. In 2024, a record 383 aid workers1 were killed in the line of duty. As of August 2025, 248 have lost their lives, with staff disproportionately affected in high-risk countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Syria. World Vision New Zealand's Acting National Director, TJ Grant says, these deadly statistics highlight the need for Governments to protect humanitarians; advocate for an end to attacks on aid workers; and guarantee safe, and unimpeded access to populations most in need. Grant says in addition to the threats to humanitarians' lives, a 40% drop in funding is having a devasting impact on the 300 million people who are in need. World Vision's recent report, Hunger, Harm and Hard Choices, revealed children are among the hardest hit — with severe consequences for food security, protection, and education outcomes. The 2025 Global Humanitarian Overview identifies a staggering 40% decline in humanitarian funding compared to the same period in 2024. Families who experience cuts in emergency food aid rations are the most vulnerable and are five times more likely to be at risk of violence and trafficking and to experience poor education outcomes. World Vision's Global Lead for Disaster Management, Isabel Gomes, says, 'Every time funding is cut, aid workers are put at greater risk, and the world's most vulnerable children are left without critical support.' The decline in global humanitarian funding means critical services, such as emergency health and child protection, are being dismantled, and children's educations are at risk. Despite overwhelming evidence that investing in children yields long-term returns—up to $10 for every $1 spent—global aid for children is on the decline. In 2023, according to the 'ODA at the crossroads' report, by World Vision, just 11.5% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) was directed toward child-focused initiatives, down from 13% the previous year. This drop comes at a time when children are bearing the brunt of escalating global crises—from conflict and climate shocks to hunger and displacement. Grant says the funding crisis has prompted humanitarian organisations to scale back operations. He says there is a failure to meet escalating global humanitarian needs and this raises questions about the international community's commitment to meet these needs. On World Humanitarian Day (19 August), World Vision New Zealand is hosting a Parliamentary Breakfast at Parliament in Wellington to bring together Members of Parliament, diplomats, NGOs, and faith leaders to honour the lives and work of humanitarian workers globally and to urge Parliamentarians to more strongly commit to New Zealand's aid efforts. 'We need the New Zealand Government to prioritise children who make up nearly half of those in need yet receive just 5% of aid funding. We're urging the Government to commit to a roadmap to reach 0.5% of Gross National Income for Official Development Assistance by 2030,' Grant says.
Sharjah 24
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
UN, partners unveil hyper-prioritised aid appeal amid funding cuts
Funding cuts impact The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that, following the deepest funding cuts ever experienced in the international humanitarian sector, this hyper-prioritised plan emphasises the most urgent elements within the ongoing Global Humanitarian Overview 2025. The funding requirement for these initiatives is set at US$29 billion. Emergency relief coordinator's remarks Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher highlighted the severe impact of funding cuts, stating that the sector now faces "brutal choices." He noted, 'Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can with the resources we are given.' Overview of humanitarian needs The Global Humanitarian Overview, launched last December, addresses humanitarian needs in over 70 countries and territories, including those hosting refugees.
Al Etihad
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UN, partners unveil hyper-prioritised aid appeal amid brutal funding cuts
17 June 2025 00:12 NEW YORK (WAM)The UN and its humanitarian partners today launched a hyper-prioritised global appeal aiming to help 114 million people facing life-threatening needs across the Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that in the wake of the deepest funding cuts ever to hit the international humanitarian sector, the hyper-prioritised plan highlights the most urgent elements within the ongoing Global Humanitarian Overview 2025. The funding requirement of these is $29 Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said that brutal funding cuts have left the sector with brutal choices. 'Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can with the resources we are given,' he said. The Global Humanitarian Overview, launched last December, covers more than 70 countries and territories with humanitarian needs, including refugee-hosting countries.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ESTHER International and Visa to collaborate on payments solutions for humanitarian aid
HOUSTON, February 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESTHER International, the financial assistance platform for governments and NGOs, and Visa, a world leader in digital payments, have signed a strategic agreement to collaborate on new payment solutions to help simplify humanitarian aid delivery, tackling global challenges in delivering aid under increasingly difficult circumstances due to worsening natural disasters and ongoing conflict. Between 2018 and 2023, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has doubled from 199.1 million to 406.6 million (UN OCHA1) and severe food insecurity could affect over 956 million people by 2028 (World Bank2). Efficient and scalable solutions to disburse cash assistance are urgently needed. Many communities are underserved by traditional financial services and have limited access to fintech infrastructure. This can make it difficult to provide those communities with humanitarian aid assistance in the event of a crisis, such as a climate-related event or conflict. As part of their new collaboration, ESTHER International and Visa aim to co-develop solutions that enable NGOs to accomplish more on the ground, at speed, with data capture and management tools that allow efficiencies at the operational level. ESTHER International and Visa plan to then test these solutions in pilot programs over the next 2 years. In 2025, ESTHER International and Visa aim to launch the first pilot in collaboration with Maui Rapid Response, an emergency response NGO based in Hawaii, using the ESTHER platform to deliver financial aid via Visa cards to individuals and families whose lives have been devastated by wildfires. Carol Rossborough, CEO at ESTHER International, said: "Humanitarian aid agencies and NGOs continue to face extreme pressure due to increasing global conflicts and climate change. An aggregated global payments solution that provides the efficiencies NGOs need can be part of the answer, and Visa's global network, as well as its money movement and innovation capabilities, make them the ideal collaborator for us." Rajiv Garodia, Head of Visa Government Solutions, said: "As the world faces unprecedented challenges in delivering humanitarian aid, our collaboration with ESTHER International is a crucial step towards ensuring that financial assistance reaches the most vulnerable communities quickly and efficiently." For more information on the launch of this joint initiative contact info@ telephone (+44)7446832070. About ESTHER International ESTHER International is a leading FinTech organization dedicated to advancing humanitarian aid through innovative technology and partnerships. Our mission is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of crisis aid delivery by providing easy to use, scalable, interoperable systems that support NGOs and local community networks. Learn more at ESTHER International. Global Humanitarian Overview 2023, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 1st December 2022, The World Bank's World Food Security Outlook, World Bank, October 2023, View source version on Contacts info@ telephone (+44)7446832070 Sign in to access your portfolio
