Geneva: On Wednesday, despite rising humanitarian needs, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised what he called a global trend of chronic underfunding of aid.

He told the UN Economic and Social Council's Humanitarian Affairs Segment that "chronic underfunding and record levels of humanitarian need are straining the system to the breaking point."

Halfway through 2023, he claimed that only 20% of the money required for the UN Global Humanitarian Appeal had been received. Guterres continued, "This is creating a crisis within a crisis." More budget cuts are required if the funding crisis is not resolved.

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In response to Sudan's severe humanitarian crisis, which has displaced roughly 2.2 million people, international donors pledged close to $1.5 billion in aid on Monday.

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Before the conference, only 15% of a UN appeal for nearly $500 million to aid refugees fleeing the country had been funded, while $2.57 billion had been requested for humanitarian assistance within Sudan this year.

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