By Sama Marwan,
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have warned about the impact of funding cuts on the delivery of humanitarian aid in several countries, including Nigeria, Burundi, and Colombia.
OCHA stated that the lack of funding is forcing aid workers to scale back essential support, including health and nutrition services, noting that some organizations have been compelled to lay off staff and reduce services, including primary healthcare and the treatment of severe malnutrition.
vwith the dry season approaching, it is crucial for the international community to increase funding to address the worsening food insecurity. OCHA reminded that at the beginning of this year, it and its partners appealed for $910 million to assist 3.6 million people in Nigeria with essential aid and protection. However, due to significant funding cuts, the office had to reprioritize its response, focusing on life-saving interventions for the most vulnerable individuals.
The UN report also stated that in Burundi, UNHCR announced that due to a severe funding shortage, it is facing critical limitations in providing protection services.
The agency said it could no longer distribute aid kits, leaving nearly 11,000 women and girls without access to basic hygiene supplies. Support for family tracing efforts has also significantly declined.
