On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a crucial appeal for $1 billion to address health crises in 2026, focusing on 36 of the world's most severe emergencies, such as those in Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and Afghanistan.

Faced with significant cuts in foreign aid from affluent nations, the WHO's emergency funding request this year is notably lower than in previous years, reflecting a more realistic approach to anticipated funding capabilities.

"We are deeply worried about the vast needs and how we will meet them," stated Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO's health emergencies chief, during a press conference in Geneva.

"We are making some of the hardest choices we have to make," he added, highlighting the challenges posed by dwindling resources.

The WHO estimates that approximately 239 million people will require urgent humanitarian assistance this year, asserting that the proposed funds are essential to maintaining vital health services.

"A quarter of a billion people are living through humanitarian crises that strip away the most basic protections: safety, shelter, and access to health care," Ihekweazu emphasized.

"In these settings, health needs are surging due to injuries, disease outbreaks, malnutrition, or untreated chronic diseases," he warned, underscoring the escalating demand for health support.

The United States, historically the largest donor to the WHO, has slashed its foreign aid under President Donald Trump, who issued a one-year withdrawal notice to the organization in January 2025.

Last year, the WHO called for $1.5 billion; however, only $900 million was received, which represents a decline from funding levels in 2016.

"We've adjusted our request to align more closely with what is realistically available, considering the global situation and limitations many countries face," Ihekweazu noted.

He added that the WHO is "hyper-prioritizing" high-impact services, concentrating efforts on areas where the most lives can be saved while empowering 1,500 local partners to strengthen their emergency responses.

As part of the 2026 appeal, priority emergency responses will also include crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, in addition to managing ongoing cholera and mpox outbreaks.