'Budget crisis' for humanitarian relief operations

Speaking at a UN session, Antonio Guterres warned that chronic funding shortages and record humanitarian needs were pushing the system to a "critical" state.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks in New York, USA. (Photo: THX/TTXVN)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 21 highlighted what he called a "chronic underfunding" of humanitarian operations globally despite growing needs for humanitarian relief.

According to a VNA reporter in Geneva, speaking at a session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Mr. Antonio Guterres warned that the prolonged lack of funding and record humanitarian relief needs are pushing the system to a "critical" state.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations has only received 20% of the funding needed for the first half of 2023, creating a "crisis within a crisis."

Without a solution to this budget crisis, further cuts to humanitarian aid are inevitable.

Previously, on June 19, international donors pledged nearly 1.5 billion USD in aid to Sudan - a country affected by a serious humanitarian crisis that has forced 2.2 million people to leave their homes.

Before this conference, the United Nations said it had only received 17% of the 2.57 billion USD appeal for humanitarian activities in Sudan this year and 15% of the 500 million USD appeal to support migrants who have fled the country to seek refuge./.

Mr. Hien (Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

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