The United Nations has issued a stark warning about an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with 305 million people projected to need lifesaving assistance in 2025 due to ongoing conflicts, climate change, and violations of international humanitarian law.

Speaking in Geneva during the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2025, Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the situation as a "polycrisis" disproportionately affecting the world's most vulnerable populations.

“The world is on fire,” Fletcher declared. “We are dealing with multiple conflicts of longer duration and increasing ferocity. It is the most vulnerable who are paying the price.” Fletcher’s office, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is seeking $47.4 billion to provide aid across 30 countries and nine refugee-hosting regions. However, despite the dire need, only 190 million of those in crisis are expected to receive assistance due to funding gaps and logistical challenges.

Highlighting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as an example, Fletcher emphasized the struggles of humanitarian teams working in areas of prolonged instability. “In DRC, as with all these conflicts, we are ready to do more. My people are desperate to get out there and deliver,” he said, urging the global community to act against what he called an “era of impunity and indifference.”

Fletcher, recently appointed to his role, promised to advocate for greater solidarity by engaging with governments worldwide to secure new partnerships. Drawing on his background in conflict resolution, he pledged to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need despite geopolitical shifts and rising skepticism toward multilateral efforts.

Fletcher also highlighted the intersection of climate change and conflict, which he described as a "dreadful combination" that intensifies suffering in already impoverished and unequal regions. Latest estimates show 123 million people have been forcibly displaced by conflict worldwide, with one in five children now living in conflict zones.

Ensuring access to aid remains a critical challenge. Fletcher noted the numerous obstructions humanitarian teams face, from border checkpoints to bureaucratic delays. “Our job is to get the humanitarian support through, checkpoint by checkpoint, border by border,” he said, describing the daily struggles of delivering aid in conflict zones like Sudan.

The launch of the humanitarian appeal also served as a platform to advocate for greater adherence to international humanitarian law. Fletcher condemned the disregard for civilian protection and aid workers, who have faced record casualties this year. “It’s not just the ferocity of conflicts like Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Syria,” he said, “but the wilful neglect of humanitarian principles.”

As the UN appeals for global support, Fletcher emphasized the critical need for funding and international cooperation. “We need the world to do more,” he said, calling for an end to indifference and renewed commitment to humanity’s most vulnerable. (ILKHA)