The war in the Middle East costs 1 billion per day at a time when humanitarian needs are soaring, and aid funding is falling dangerously short. The United Nations launched a campaign in December 2025 to raise $23 billion and provide support to 87 million people. This appeal remains around two-thirds underfunded.
The “87 million lives” campaign seeks to alert the international community to the scale of global humanitarian needs. The number refers to the millions of people around the world who depend on assistance, due to armed conflict, crises or natural disasters.
“The world could spend a little less on weapons and a little more on doing something extraordinary and capable of changing the world” said Tom Fletcher after acknowledging the current times of brutality and impunity.
The Under-Secretary-General also reinforced the importance of international humanitarian institutions that provide direct assistance to the populations of the different affected countries.
Why 23 billion?
$23 billion – an average of about $264 per person, or roughly 1 per cent of what the world spends on defence – is needed in 2026 to provide life-saving assistance to those most in need. This assistance includes emergency food and nutrition, essential health services, clean water and sanitation, protection services and shelter.
“We still need over $14 billion now to deliver this plan, and this is at a time when conflict in the Middle East is costing $1 billion a day,” said Tom Fletche, speaking to reporters in Geneva, 11 March.
“Even just $1 billion would allow us to save millions of lives.”
“This is a moment of grave peril”, and warned that without additional support “, millions of people will die”.
https://crisisrelief.un.org/en/