2026: Millions in need will not get aid unless global solidarity revived

“2026 is set to stretch humanitarian responses to their limit as they seek to support people with the most severe needs around the world.  

“Next year, 239 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. Humanitarians are aiming to reach just over half of them. We fear a lack of funding means that millions of people enduring crises in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Syria will not get aid. This is not a foregone conclusion and must be avoided at all costs. 

“In 2025 the dramatic cuts to humanitarian funding from the United States and European donors meant the gap between required and actual funding was greater than ever. Ultimately, tens of millions of people went without the help they desperately needed. In 2026 the impact of the cuts made by donors will become even more evident on the frontlines. This cannot continue. 

“The only way to cope with the current situation is to collectively treat the symptoms and the underlying cause of need simultaneously. The humanitarian system must prioritise its efforts assisting people with the most severe needs, providing urgent and emergency interventions in crises. At the same time, the broader development system must step up its efforts to provide longer-term solutions that alleviate the underlying causes of need. This way we can support people in urgent need today while at the same time reducing long-term aid dependency. 

“At NRC we will continue to prioritise families with the most severe needs, including people who are living in remote areas or who are cut off from support by conflict. We are also working in partnership with other aid organisations to help people get back on their feet, become self-reliant, and end the cycle of aid dependency. 

“We know that with adequate resourcing for both emergency interventions to meet immediate needs and support to disrupt the drivers of need over time, displaced families can build the future they hope for and dream of. We see this through our work around the world. For example in Mozambique, where NRC’s micro-grants have enabled people to start their own businesses, or in Nigeria, where we have helped displaced children catch up on missed learning and get back into formal education, or in Jordan, where we have helped refugees obtain legal documents to be able to access healthcare and other vital services. We see these possibilities in every one of the 40 countries we work in. 

“We must not lose hope. But if we are to empower families living in the midst of terrible crises, it is vital that 2026 sees a revival of global solidarity. Nations, corporations, and citizens must step up to ensure that no one is left behind.”  

Notes to editors 

• Read NRC’s paper on what to do about the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available funding that will result in millions of people off the "humanitarian books". 

• According to the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO), 239 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026. Of these, the UN and humanitarian partners will try to reach 135 million, of which 87 are deemed an immediate priority and face the most urgent needs. The UN and humanitarian partners have asked for 33 billion USD to meet the needs of the 135 million people targeted, while 23 billion is required to meet the most urgent needs (OCHA). 

• In 2025, 44 billion USD was requested – the lowest amount since 2021. As of early December, just 28 per cent is funded (12 billion) (OCHA).  

• In June 2025 in acknowledgement of cuts, a ‘hyper-prioritised’ appeal was launched which seeks 29 billion US Dollars to meet the most critical life-saving needs of 114 million people (OCHA).  

• Many major donors are cutting foreign aid budgets, which include both humanitarian and development funding.

  • In January, the United States (US) suspended ongoing aid projects to conduct a foreign assistance review, forcing the majority of US-funded humanitarian work to be put on hold and for much of it, eventually, to cease (Devex).

  • In February, the United Kingdom announced it would be cutting Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income by 2027 (UK Government).

  • In February, the Dutch government also announced a EUR 2.4 billion cut in development aid from 2027 (Government of the Netherlands).

  • The French government announced it would reduce public development assistance by more than EUR 2 billion – close to 40% of its annual funding (RFI).

  • In Germany, the government has radically cut the humanitarian emergency aid budget, by 53%, to about €1 billion for 2025, and is estimated to stay at this level for 2026 (DW). 

  • Swiss, Swedish, and Belgian governments have also announced cuts in aid assistance budgets (Devex, Devex, SwissInfo, Development Today).   

• Since the 2025 GHO, there has been a change in how numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance are calculated. The UN has adopted a narrower definition of “humanitarian needs” than in previous years, to offer what it believes is a more realistic assessment of priorities in light of the widespread cuts to humanitarian funding and in line with the 'humanitarian reset'. This comes on top of a similar exercise conducted for the 2025 GHO. It is important to be aware that the lower people in need figure compared to last year (239 million now vs 305 million last year) does not mean that humanitarian needs have decreased– on the contrary, in many places the situation has worsened significantly. 

For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:  

• NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329