UNITED NATIONS, New York, 12 April 2025 (BSS/AFP) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is set to reduce its global workforce by 20%, as part of sweeping budget cuts triggered by a major shortfall in international funding — most notably from the United States.
In an internal letter to staff on Thursday, Tom Fletcher, head of OCHA, described the current situation as “the toughest it has ever been” for both the agency and the wider humanitarian system.
“The humanitarian community was already underfunded, overstretched and, in some cases, literally under attack. Now, we face a wave of brutal cuts,” Fletcher wrote.
The United States, long the largest donor to humanitarian causes globally, has significantly slashed contributions under President Donald Trump’s administration, including the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) earlier this year. This decision alone has removed an estimated 83% of USAID-funded humanitarian programmes, causing a ripple effect across aid organisations worldwide.
OCHA at a Glance
| Metric | Pre-Cut (2025) | Post-Cut (Estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Staff | Approx. 2,600 | Approx. 2,080 |
| Annual Budget | $430 million | $370 million (gap: $60M) |
| US Contribution to Budget | $63 million | Significantly reduced |
| Number of Operating Countries | 60+ | Likely reduced to under 55 |
| Cuts Announced in | Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, Zimbabwe |
Since February 2025, OCHA has implemented internal austerity measures, saving approximately $3.7 million, but this remains insufficient to address the growing deficit. The 20% staff reduction will primarily affect senior and bureaucratic roles as OCHA aims to become “less top-heavy” and more agile in high-need zones.
Fletcher emphasised the aim to preserve frontline operations where humanitarian needs are most urgent — including Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and other conflict zones.
The Global Humanitarian Funding Crisis
USAID 2024 Budget: $42.8 billion
USAID Global Humanitarian Share: 42%
Reduction Under Trump (2025): 83% of USAID humanitarian programmes
UNHCR Impact: Expects major workforce reduction (nearly 20,000 employees affected)
OCHA’s role includes coordination of UN emergency responses and delivering timely information from conflict and disaster-affected areas. The funding cuts, however, force the organisation into “tough choices”, Fletcher stated, stressing these decisions were not indicative of a decline in global humanitarian need, but rather a severe lack of resources.
“We believe passionately in what we do. But we cannot continue to do it all,” Fletcher concluded in his message to staff.
As the humanitarian landscape continues to evolve, these dramatic cuts serve as a stark reminder of the global consequences of shifting political priorities — and the millions of vulnerable lives caught in the balance.