The United Nations has had to ‘ultra-prioritize’ needs due to cuts in international aid.
On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) denounced the fact that it struggles to raise US$23 billion to save 87 million lives worldwide, while the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran is costing US$1 billion a day.
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Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher explained that the organization has had to “ultra-prioritize” needs due to cuts in international aid, especially from the U.S., while some European countries have also reduced their contributions.
He explained that a third of what is needed, US$8.7 billion, has been pledged so far. However, Fletcher warned that without the rest, “millions of people will die” and called for rapid disbursements in the first half of the year.
The agent stressed that more than US$14 billion is still needed and criticized the fact that, meanwhile, the conflict in the Middle East is consuming “astronomical sums,” urging people to “feel shame” for this disproportionate allocation of resources.
Nevertheless, the UN has already reached seven million people in dire need in hard-to-reach areas during the first nine weeks of the year, thanks to cooperation with NGOs.
Fletcher noted that the war obligates the organization to extend its response in countries like Lebanon and announced that they will launch a new emergency funding appeal to address the needs of that region.
He explained that funds are being drawn from the UN Emergency Response Fund, which means diverting resources from other crises. Meanwhile, the United States is spending an additional US$187 million per day on gasoline following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
