Despite record levels of funding, humanitarian assistance is unlikely to reach all those in need of assistance

The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance across the globe continue to increase drastically. Against this backdrop, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has approved the allocation of 4.6 billion SEK across 31 humanitarian operations around the world. However, soaring food and fuel prices is negatively affecting humanitarian actors’ ability to provide lifesaving assistance as increased operational costs means that fewer people will be reached by humanitarian assistance.

- “Sida has just recently allocated 4.6 billion SEK to support humanitarian operations in 31 severe crises around the world. More people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection today than ever before, and this is at a time when humanitarian funding from donors have increased at the same rate. On top of this, the cost of food items and fuel has risen sharply, making humanitarian operations more costly. The impact is that the already scarce resources will only be sufficient to provide lifesaving assistance to a smaller number of vulnerable people, which is a very worrying development." says Jakob Wernerman, Director of Humanitarian Assistance at Sida.

Sida’s humanitarian allocation is based on an assessment of global humanitarian needs and the allocation of funds is made to address the most severe and acute humanitarian needs across the world. Therefore, Sida’s humanitarian assistance in 2023 is distributed among 31 crises, with 3.7 billion SEK distributed among Sida’s 18 strategic humanitarian partners. In addition, Sida disburses 862 million SEK in flexible funding to enable our partners to allocate resources where needs are most severe, and to facilitate rapid scale-up of their operations in case of sudden onset emergencies or a severe deterioration in conditions during the year.

Sweden is one of the world's largest humanitarian donors and Sida purposefully disburses a large proportion of the total humanitarian allocation at an early stage in the year – to ensure that our strategic humanitarian partner organisations have the financial resources needed to continue to provide urgent life-saving assistance to people in need, such as the provision of water and sanitation (WASH), protection, healthcare and nutrition services, shelter and food. and cash assistance.

Sida’s humanitarian assistance is channelled through 18 strategically selected humanitarian partner organisations consisting of various United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental civil society organisations as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swedish Red Cross and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).

Difficult operating environments

Several armed conflicts have also worsened in the recent years, requiring humanitarian actors to devote more resources to ensure their own safety and security in order to reach people in need. In addition, there are worrying trends in terms of armed groups and warring states committing serious abuses against civilians and, in several countries, it is becoming increasingly difficult for humanitarian organisations to reach the most vulnerable populations.

- “In the last 6 months, I have visited several conflicted-affected countries, including Somalia, Ukraine and Myanmar, and it is evident how armed conflict makes it more difficult, dangerous and costly for our partner organisations to reach people in need," says Jakob Wernerman, Director of Humanitarian Assistance at Sida.

Distribution to 31 crises

Ethiopia (340 million), Afghanistan (300 million), Syria (280 million), Yemen (270 million), Democratic Republic of Congo (245 million), Ukraine (220 million), Somalia (210 million), South Sudan (200 million), Sudan (185 million), Nigeria (155 million), Mali (110 million), Myanmar (100 million), Chad (90 million), Burkina Faso (85 million), Venezuela (85 million), Central African Republic (80 million), Colombia (80 million), Pakistan (80 million), Lebanon (75 million), Palestine (70 million), Niger (65 million), and Cameroon (60 million), Haiti (45 million), Uganda (45 million), Iraq (40 million), Mozambique (40 million), Türkiye (40 million), Bangladesh (35 million), Kenya (35 million), Jordan (15 million) and Algeria (10 million).