UNICEF has launched a US$ 9.9 billion funding appeal to reach 109 million children in 146 countries with lifesaving aid next year.

Around the world, 213 million children are at the sharp end of unpredictable and volatile humanitarian emergencies.

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

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.

 “The scale of children’s humanitarian needs is at a historically high level, with more children impacted every day,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

In 2024, over 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, it said.

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

The top five appeals by funding requirements for 2025 are for Afghanistan, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine and Lebanon. 

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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.