Only 30 percent of the funding needed to provide humanitarian assistance has been disbursed so far this year, the lowest level since 2019, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Millions of people are being abandoned by the outside world as countries such as North America and Europe cut aid, the organization warns.
Strategic and political reasons have reduced interest in giving, according to Jan Egeland. Sweden has also reduced its aid, but still stands out.
Swedish tradition
– There is no doubt that Sida and, by extension, Sweden have had a tradition of always giving where the needs are greatest when it comes to humanitarian aid. Sweden upholds principles that have been in place for 100 years, says Egeland and hopes that more will follow suit.
There is a difference between humanitarian aid and development assistance or military aid, he points out.
– You have to distinguish between the regime and people in need. You can't reduce food rations for starving children.
Punishes women and children
Afghanistan is now one of the least funded countries in the world. The United States has ended all humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, despite providing more than 40 percent of humanitarian aid there until 2024.
“Women and children are being punished for what the men in power have done,” says Egeland.
Particularly vulnerable after the US war against Iran broke out are the approximately four million Afghan refugees in Iran.
When the US and Israel bombed Iran, many Afghans became homeless and all Afghans were left in an even worse financial situation due to the enormous economic crisis in Iran. I have visited Afghan refugee families in Iran, they are wondering where they should go. They are not getting any help from Iran or Europe.
Lebanon, Ukraine and Gaza are countries whose refugee crises have received a lot of media attention. Congo-Kinshasa, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, on the other hand, have been overshadowed and are severely underfunded.
"The spirit of the times is not good. There was a completely different willingness to show solidarity 30–40 years ago," says Egeland.
252 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026. As of June 24, 10.2 billion US dollars had been disbursed, corresponding to just over 30 percent of the need.
So far this year, the United States has contributed $4,873 million, just over a third of what the country gave in 2024 in total.
The UK has given just under $646 million this year, compared to $2,263 million for the whole of 2024.
Sweden has contributed $747 million so far this year. For the whole of 2024, the figure was $1,280 million, according to what NRC/Ocha has registered.
Sweden's strategy is to "ensure that support reaches the most vulnerable, to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity, also in the world's most forgotten and underfunded humanitarian crises."
Humanitarian efforts in Yemen, Niger, Burkina Faso, Afghanistan and Mali have the lowest funding.
Sources: NRC, Ocha, government.se
