The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is currently facing a substantial funding shortfall of approximately $10 billion from its total target budget of $23 billion, aimed at aiding 87 million people. Notably, overall funding for humanitarian agencies has dropped by 50% — from $50 billion to $20 billion. Compared with the US’s expenditure on the two-week war in Iran, the UN’s yearly plan could be entirely covered. A UN representative described the current relations with Donald Trump’s administration as unstable, characterized by so-called “real estate diplomacy” that relies on personal relationships and managed chaos rather than upholding institutional norms. Specifically, the heightened aggressive rhetoric from Washington, including threats, strengthens the influence of autocratic regimes that disregard international law norms.
Additionally, the diplomat suggested the possibility of renouncing the US as a donor should their assistance be tied to ideological demands concerning issues like abortion or transgender rights, emphasizing the necessity of genuinely terminating conflicts. The crisis of underfunding is also attributed to factors beyond US actions — formerly contributing 40–45% of the UN’s budget — such as policies of European nations. A former British diplomat pointed out that the United Kingdom, by abandoning the commitment to allocate 0.7% of its gross national income to foreign aid, has lost international credibility, adversely affecting support for the UN among other countries.