Global Humanitarian Overview for 2016 – A Consolidated Appeal to Support People Affected by Disaster and Conflict
UN OCHA
December 2015:: 36 pages
PDF: http://bit.ly/1OMQMQy

Executive Summary [Excerpts]
The outlook for 2016 is grim. Millions of civilians, uprooted from their homes by violent and prolonged conflict, will remain in desperate need of protection and humanitarian assistance.
About 60 million people are displaced around the world, and more than a quarter of these displacements are due to the conflicts in Iraq, South Sudan and Syria. Conflict has scarred people’s lives, robbed them of dignity, and shattered economies, livelihoods and vital infrastructure, including health facilities and schools. Humanitarian partners require $20.1 billion to meet the needs of over 87.6 million people in 37 countries around the world….

…Despite the extreme challenges and severe access restrictions, humanitarian organizations continue to reach more people than ever. During 2015, humanitarian partners in Sudan assisted more than 2 million people with health services and some 3.1 million people with food and agricultural inputs. Over 25,000 newly displaced households and 120,000 South Sudanese refugees received shelter materials and essential household supplies. Some 83,000 children under age 5 were treated for severe acute malnutrition, and 1.6 million people were given access to improved drinking water. But despite donors’ generosity, the gap between needs and funding has continued to grow, and there is no quick fix. The funding gap means that 1.2 million sick and injured people in Libya will not be able to access health care. Nearly 100,000 children will miss out on an education, and millions will continue to be exposed to threats to their safety and dignity. In Afghanistan, the funding gap means a further reduction in reach to the estimated 1 million malnourished children (current treatment reaches fewer than 30 per cent of children in need).

Underfunding also means that more children die before their fifth birthday and suffer stunting due to malnutrition. More women die in childbirth; more people suffer from preventable diseases; more children lose the opportunity to build a future through education; and less protection is given to the most vulnerable displaced people, increasing the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, especially for girls and women. It also means that more farmers are forced to
use their seeds for food instead of crops, starting another cycle of poverty and deprivation.

Addressing underfunding requires a range of measures. It will mean adjusting the approach to protracted crises and disasters, including those in middle-income countries. Potential solutions include leveraging diverse funding sources; using the right mix of financial instruments for each situation and investing more in preparedness. Funding mechanisms, such as the Central Emergency Response Fund and the country-based pooled funds, can effectively support a rapid humanitarian response and underfunded emergencies. The use of cash programming will ensure an efficient, cost-effective response that gives people dignity and choice.

Faced with ever-growing needs, we rely on the international community, Governments and the public to give their support and resources — financially and in kind — to allow us to continue humanitarian action. Our shared aims are to end suffering, meet the immediate needs of
crisis-affected people, keep them safe.

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OCHA Press Conference – Launch of the Global Humanitarian Appeal 2016 (Geneva, 7 December 2015)
7 Dec 2015
Video: 00:41:43
Launch of the Global Humanitarian Appeal 2016 to support people affected by disasters and conflicts. The appeal combines response plans and urgent humanitarian requirements spanning 37 countries.

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Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien Remarks at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2016
Geneva 7 December 2015