UAE pledges Sh71 billion to UN Humanitarian Fund as US cuts funding

Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA) Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher holds the Global Humanitarian Overwiew 2025 report during a press conference in Geneva on December 3, 2024. [AFP]

Just a day after the United Nations appealed for nearly Sh3 trillion ($23 billion) to support 87 million people plagued by war, natural disasters, epidemic, and food shortages next year, the United Arab Emirates has pledged Sh71 billion ($550 million) to the Global Humanitarian Overview.

The initiative, launched December 8, 2025, targets assistance for 135 million people across 50 countries. As the United States reduces its financial backing to the UN, the UAE has emerged as a key benefactor, committing significant funds to aid vulnerable global populations, including in Africa, facing displacement, hunger and health challenges.