Record $47bn humanitarian funding in 2022 not enough to cover global need: report

Record levels of humanitarian funding were given last year, though not enough to cover the increasing number of people affected by humanitarian crises.

An estimated $46.9 billion was given in 2022, up 27 percent from the year prior, according to Development Initiatives, an organisation that uses data to fight poverty.

Development Initiatives issued its Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023 on Tuesday, saying in its press release that humanitarian need had risen by a third in 2022 to 406.6 million people. The funding shortfall hit a record of over $20 billion.

"This year's Global Humanitarian Assistance Report makes one thing clearer than ever: global systems and institutions are unable to support the increasing numbers of people being affected by humanitarian crises," said Development Initiatives CEO Adrian Lovett.

"While some of the world's top donors have stepped up, humanitarian actors across the sector must do more to help deliver the changes promised at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, including within the Grand Bargain," he added, referring to an agreement on improving the way aid works.

"With more funding having been made available, we know the will is there. But we need not just more but better approaches to financing.

"At the same time, we need development, peacebuilding and climate actors to collaborate in joint efforts to tackle the root causes of crises. We must end these cycles of crisis so people can begin to rebuild their lives."

Development Initiatives said that as of April this year, 404.3 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance, a figure that is likely to grow.

Christina Bennett, CEO of the Start Network of non-governmental organisations, said: "Humanitarians and governments must invest in reducing disaster risks and acting before they happen.

"Anticipatory action is an effective, efficient and ethical way to protect communities against the destructive effects of climate change."

According to Development Initiatives' report, last year three-quarters of those in need of humanitarian assistance lived in countries facing at least two of the following risk aspects: conflict, climate and socioeconomic fragility.

Ukraine received $4.4 billion in humanitarian funding last year – more than any other country and far above previous years' top recipients, including Yemen with $3.3 billion in 2021.

Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Ethiopia also received over $2 billion of humanitarian funding each last year, according to the Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2023.