The United Nations plans to raise $47 billion by 2025 to support approximately 190 million people fleeing conflict and battling famine.

This ambitious effort comes as the international body struggles with a significant funding gap, having received less than half of its appeal this year. UN officials fear further cuts from major Western donors, including the United States.

Facing what UN aid chief Tom Fletcher described as an “unprecedented level of suffering,” the organization aims to provide assistance in 32 countries next year, focusing on areas devastated by wars, including Sudan, Syria, Gaza, and Ukraine.

“The world is burning, and this is how we put out the fire,” Fletcher said during a briefing in Geneva.

The $47 billion appeal is the fourth-largest in the history of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). However, Fletcher acknowledged that the funding request does not cover the needs of an estimated 115 million people due to limited resources.

“We have had to focus entirely on reaching the most vulnerable, and that is really tough,” he added.

The UN has reduced its funding appeal for 2024 to $46 billion, down from $56 billion the previous year, reflecting dwindling donor contributions. So far, it has raised only 43% of the requested amount, marking one of the worst funding rates in its history.

The United States has contributed over $10 billion—roughly half of the funds received this year. Nonetheless, OCHA has been forced to make difficult decisions, including slashing food aid by 80% in Syria and scaling back water services in cholera-prone Yemen.

This humanitarian aid is just one facet of the UN’s broader financial challenges, as the organization continues to struggle with member states failing to pay their dues, jeopardizing its ability to meet basic budget needs.