New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the United States’ pledge of $1.8 billion in new funding to support humanitarian operations worldwide.
The pledge, announced on Wednesday, lifted recent American humanitarian contributions through the UN-coordinated system to 3.8 billion dollars.
This latest pledge follows an earlier allocation of 2 billion dollars, announced in December, which provided emergency relief to several crises.
On this development, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in New York that Guterres welcomed the latest contribution.
“This commitment will allow humanitarians to reach millions with lifesaving support in urgent crises,” Haq said.
Echoing this perspective, Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described the funding as critical amid growing operational pressure.
“Humanitarian agencies are overstretched, under-resourced and literally under attack. This support will help save millions of lives,” Fletcher said at UN Headquarters in New York.
Mounting pressure from conflict, displacement, climate shocks, and shrinking donor budgets worldwide continues to challenge humanitarian agencies.
Current estimates indicate that about 239 million people worldwide require humanitarian assistance.
Fletcher said the first 2 billion-dollar tranche supported 14.4 million people during 2026. “That is a headline we should all celebrate,” he said.
Targeting 18 crises, the earlier package tripled pooled humanitarian funding in affected countries.
Six of those emergencies began the year without any pooled funding. As of this week, 1.71 billion dollars have already been implemented.
UN agencies and partners aim to reach more than 22 million people. More than 6 million people received food aid, while 10.4 million gained access to safe water.
Additionally, funding supports 690 health facilities and assistance for 779,000 households.
As part of these efforts, around 300,000 girls and 266,000 boys are receiving treatment for severe malnutrition.
Protection services for women and girls, including survivors of sexual violence, are also funded through this support.
Fletcher said reforms were improving efficiency, accountability, and local decision-making.
“We have demonstrated our capacity to deliver under challenging conditions. Now, our focus is on securing remaining funds and carrying out this ambitious plan,” Fletcher said.