UNICEF appeals for US$9.9 billion in humanitarian funding to support children affected by conflict and crisis in increasingly volatile world

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 5 December 2024 – UNICEF launched a US$ 9.9 billion funding appeal today to reach 109 million children across 146 countries with lifesaving aid in 2025.

The funds will be utilized in UNICEF’s humanitarian response to multiple conflicts, climate shocks, displacement, and health crises expected next year.

Around the world, 213 million children are at the sharp end of unpredictable and volatile humanitarian emergencies. With 109 million children targeted by UNICEF for humanitarian assistance in 2025, donor funding is critical to ensure the response is timely, effective, and sufficient.

"UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary contributions which means that every action that UNICEF takes to shape the lives of children around the world is a choice — a choice by governments, by individual donors, by companies, by community groups and by associations who refuse to ignore the injustices of childhood in many pockets of the world and lean into reshaping them," said UNICEF Canada President and CEO, Sevaun Palvetzian. "Looking ahead to 2025, as a staggering 213 million children will need support, we hope to bring even more Canadians together to help ensure that every child is healthy, educated and protected."

Additionally, in 2024, more than 57.5 million children were born into countries affected by conflict or other humanitarian crises where UNICEF has an emergency appeal. That figure is expected to rise by at least 400,000 in 2025.

The US$9.9billion appeal for 2025 highlights the pressing need to tackle a growing array of humanitarian challenges confronting children in 146 countries.

As part of its Humanitarian Action for Children, which sets out the agency’s 2025 appeal, UNICEF plans to reach:

• 56.9 million children and women accessing primary healthcare in UNICEF-supported facilities
• 34 million children 6-59 months screened for wasting
• 20.6 million children, adolescents and caregivers accessing community-based mental health and psychosocial support
• 11. 1 million women, girls and boys accessing gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention, and/or response interventions
• 24 million children accessing formal or non-formal education, including early learning
• 55.3 million people accessing a sufficient quantity and quality of water

The top five appeals by funding requirements for 2025 are for:

• Afghanistan                                                           $1,188,778,304
• Sudan                                                                    $840,000,000
• Democratic Republic of the Congo                       $804,295,490
• State of Palestine                                                  $716,540,000
• Lebanon                                                                $658,200,000

Notable results in 2024 include:

• 26.4 million children and women accessing primary health care
• 12.2 million children 6-59 months screened for wasting
• 17.4 million people accessing a sufficient quantity and quality of water for drinking and domestic needs
• 9.7 million children accessing formal or non-formal education, including early learning
• 12.6 million children, adolescents, and caregivers accessing community-based mental health and psychosocial support

Last year, donors contributed more than 50 per cent of UNICEF’s thematic humanitarian funding to just four emergencies – Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, and Ukraine – a fraction of the 412 emergencies UNICEF responded to in 107 countries. Meanwhile, humanitarian operations in countries like Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Myanmar are the most severely underfunded.

“Support through flexible humanitarian funding is critical for our work for children affected by crises,” said Russell. “Imagine what we can achieve for children working together through principled humanitarian action, creating a world where the rights of every child are protected and upheld, and where every child can develop and thrive - a world fit for every child.”

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Notes for editors:

HAC Overview and individual appeals will be available for download here