Washington is set to pledge $2 billion in UN humanitarian aid in 2026, according to a source at the U.S. State Department who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP). This amount is significantly lower than U.S. contributions in recent years.
According to United Nations data, the United States remains the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor. However, its financial contribution dropped sharply in 2025 to $2.7 billion, after reaching nearly $11 billion in 2023 and 2024, and exceeding $14 billion in 2022.
The pledge is expected to be announced today, Tuesday (Monday local time), in Geneva.
Earlier this December, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher launched the organization’s appeal for humanitarian funding for 2026, requesting $23 billion to save at least 87 million of the most vulnerable people in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine.
In light of the sharp cuts to foreign aid by U.S. President Donald Trump, the United Nations has scaled back its ambitions.
Fletcher said at the time that the appeal—limited to “the most critical priorities” and accompanied by reforms to improve the efficiency of the humanitarian aid system—was “built on painful choices between life and death.” He expressed hope that these “difficult decisions” would persuade Washington to “renew its commitment” to humanitarian assistance.
The UN stresses that the reduced funding target does not indicate a decline in humanitarian needs—on the contrary.
According to UN estimates, 240 million people living in conflict zones and affected by epidemics, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change are in urgent need of emergency assistance.
The United Nations had called for more than $45 billion in funding for 2025 but received just over $12 billion—described as “the lowest level in a decade.”
That amount enabled assistance to 98 million people, which is 25 million fewer than the previous year.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement: “Every dollar matters, and we are determined to make the most of U.S. support.”
For his part, U.S. official for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs, and international religious freedom Jeremy Lewin told journalists that “this is a foundational commitment.”
He added, “Other countries will be added as we continue to secure more funding for this mechanism.”
Among the countries excluded from the aid were Yemen and Afghanistan. Lewin justified this by citing concerns that assistance could be “diverted to the Taliban and other U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations.”
Gaza was also absent from U.S. aid allocations. However, Lewin said there would be a greater focus on providing assistance to the Palestinian sector devastated by the war, as progress is made on the ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump with Israel.
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