OCHA chief warns that only 6% of budget for this year’s aid is funded

Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s Special Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs and head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for Afghanistan has expressed deep concern about the support and funding of Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs as currently only six percent of the required budget for 2024 has been funded.

In a report released this week, Ratwatte highlighted the complex geo-political context and Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters and emphasized the importance of swift humanitarian responses, something which can only occur with sufficient financial resources.

“In my capacity as Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), I will clearly communicate the pressing humanitarian needs within Afghanistan, as articulated in the Humanitarian Needs Response Plan (HNRP),” he said.

“A key objective is to ensure adequate resources for this plan and to support the implementation of humanitarian programs by collaborating with all UN agencies and implementing partners,” he added.

Ratwatte also expressed deep concern over current funding levels, noting that the 2024 HNRP is only six percent funded with just US$290 million secured of US$3.06 billion needed.

Such a significant gap between existing needs and available funding will severely impede the delivery of life-saving assistance, he said.

Ratwatte has in turn appealed to the international community to redouble their commitment to the Afghan people by stepping up their financial support.