The United Nations and the United States government signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, in which the US committed a meager US$2 billion to UN-managed humanitarian funds in 2026. It comes after the United States slashed its contribution to global humanitarian aid by more than $10 billion in 2025, leaving millions without lifesaving aid and dismantling the world's largest government aid agency.
The agreement covers 17 countries, as well as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). With this funding, life-saving assistance can continue to reach people in some of the world’s most severe crises. However, some emergencies, such as those in Afghanistan and Yemen, will reportedly not be included in the funding pledge.
Whether the memorandum violates the fundamental principles of humanitarian aid remains unclear. The four principles of humanitarian aid—humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence—are formally enshrined in two United Nations General Assembly resolutions.
According to the principle of impartiality, humanitarian action must prioritize the most urgent cases of need, regardless of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class, or political opinions. Humanitarian assistance must be provided without discrimination, meaning aid must be given solely on the basis of need.
Eliminating specific countries or crises from the funding pledge may not adhere to the principle of impartiality.
In 2024, the US contributed more than $14 billion to humanitarian funding channelled through the United Nations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Red Cross movement. Thus far, the US has only spent $3.4 billion in 2025.
Nevertheless, in a statement, Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, who had signed the memorandum, welcomed the announcement, calling it "a commitment that will save many millions of lives." If the memorandum is assessed as politically poisoned and in violation of international law, he will likely lose his job.
Fletcher emphasized that accountability and transparency would be central to the partnership and that American taxpayers would be able to track how every dollar was spent and turned into real, life-saving impact on the ground.
The UN relief chief added that this investment would significantly strengthen humanitarian operations in 2026 and help close critical gaps across multiple emergencies.
According to UN data, as of December 2025, the United States remains the top donor, though the European Commission is close behind. That's because the US's share of global funding has dropped sharply, from over 40 percent in 2024 to approximately 15 percent thus far. The European Union — comprising the European Commission and EU member states — has become the leading provider of global humanitarian aid.
Global humanitarian funding plummeted in 2025 due to extreme cuts by the United States and other major donors, including major donor countries such Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Although global funding has been declining since 2022 despite rising needs, this year's levels have fallen to record lows.
Humanitarian leaders, including Fletcher, have warned that people are dying now and millions more will die because of the drastic cuts to humanitarian aid.
This development is primarily the responsibility of the governments of the United States and Germany. These two countries were traditionally the largest donors of global humanitarian aid, but no longer hold that distinction.