That was the message from UN relief chief Tom Fletcher on Friday, as the aid coordination office he runs, OCHA, released $160 million to keep life-saving help flowing in 12 of the most underfunded crises on the planet.

“We have 87 million people to reach, and no time to waste,” said Mr. Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator.

“Today’s new funding will help us get aid to people who might otherwise be left behind. But money alone won’t get us there: leaders must exercise political will to open access, remove obstacles and help us reach people whose lives are on the line.”

The 87 million are the world’s needy facing the most severe crises this year.

Access the sticking point

Five of the 12 crises – Afghanistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen – are among 10 contexts where Mr. Fletcher has called for urgent diplomatic action to secure access. Unlocking it would open the way to assistance for 11 million people.

The bulk of the allocation, $150 million, comes from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and will be shared out as follows:

• Afghanistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Yemen: $18 million each
• Somalia and Sudan: $16 million each
• South Sudan: $15 million
• Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger: $10 million each
• Chad: $9 million
• Cameroon: $6 million
• Cuba: $4 million

Including people with disabilities

A further $10 million is set aside for people with disabilities in the same 12 crises, so that aid reaches them and works for them.

CERF is teaming up with the UN Global Disability Fund, which will add up to $4 million in funding and technical support through its Inclusion Catalyst Hub.

Part of that will go towards strengthening local organizations of people with disabilities and their role in the response.

Fast-moving fund

CERF, managed by OCHA, is one of the fastest funding tools available. Allocations for underfunded emergencies rest on analysis of more than 100 humanitarian indicators and wide consultation with partners.

Friday’s release takes CERF allocations in 2026 to $483 million.

Since the General Assembly created it in 2005, the fund has channelled some $10.2 billion to hundreds of millions of people in more than 117 countries and territories, thanks to 135 Member States and observers, along with private donors and individuals. Its annual funding target is $1 billion.