「世界が燃えている」国連、２０２５年の支援資金に７兆円要請

【ジュネーブＡＦＰ＝時事】国連は４日、来年は紛争の激化や気候変動で数億人が困窮すると警告し、重要な支援を行う資金として４７４億ドル（７兆円）の拠出を要請していると報告した。（写真は、スイス・ジュネーブで記者会見に臨み、２０２５年の「人道支援概観」を手にする国連人道問題調整室〈ＯＣＨＡ〉のトム・フレッチャー室長〈事務次長〉）
　国連人道問題調整室（ＯＣＨＡ）のトム・フレッチャー室長（事務次長）はスイス・ジュネーブでの記者会見で、「世界が燃えている」と述べ、２０２５年を不安とともに見据えていると語った。
　パレスチナ自治区ガザ地区やスーダン、ウクライナなどで残忍な紛争が激化し、気候変動や異常気象がかつてない被害をもたらす中、国連の推定によれば、来年世界で何らかの支援を必要とする人々は３億５００万人に上る。
　フレッチャー氏は「私たちの世界は今、ポリクライシス（複合危機）に取り組んでいるが、その代償を支払わされているのは、世界で最も弱い立場にある人々だ」と指摘。格差の拡大と紛争、気候変動が相まって支援を必要とする人々にとって「最悪の状況」が生じていると述べた。
　フレッチャー氏は２０２５年の「人道支援概観」を公表し、国連とそのパートナーが支援を必要とする人全員に手を差し伸べることはできないと認めた。
　国連機関や人道支援団体は２０２５年分の資金として４７４億ドルを要請している。今年分よりもわずかに少ないが、国連は、最も弱い立場にある１億８９５０万人に支援を届けられるとしている。だがこの計画では、「１億１５００万人分、足りない」とフレッチャー氏は認めた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/12/04-19:04）

The UN on Wednesday appealed for more than $47 billion to deliver vital aid next year in a world ravaged by surging conflicts and the climate crisis, but warned many in need would not be reached.
The world is on fire, the United Nations' new humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told reporters in Geneva, acknowledging he was looking ahead to 2025 with dread.
With brutal conflicts spiralling in places like Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, and as climate change and extreme weather take an ever-heavier toll, the UN estimated that 305 million people globally will need some form of emergency assistance next year.
We are dealing with a poly-crisis right now globally, and it is the most vulnerable people in the world who are paying the price, Fletcher said, warning that swelling inequality combined with the convergence of conflict and climate change had created a perfect storm of needs.
Launching the Global Humanitarian Overview, Fletcher acknowledged that the UN and its partners would not be able to reach all of those in need.
The annual appeal by UN agencies and partner humanitarian organisations is seeking $47.4 billion for 2025 -- slightly less than the appeal for this year -- which it said was enough to provide assistance to the 189.5 million most vulnerable people.
There's 115 million that we won't be able to reach with this plan, Fletcher acknowledged.
- 'Ruthless' -
Pointing to significant donor fatigue hitting humanitarian operations, he stressed the need for a realistic plan, which required prioritisation and making really tough, tough choices.
We've got to be absolutely focused on reaching those in the most dire need, and really ruthless.
As of last month, only 43 percent of the $50 billion appeal for this year had been met.
Underfunding this year has seen an 80-percent reduction in food assistance in Syria, cuts to protection services in Myanmar, and diminished water and sanitation aid in cholera-prone Yemen, the UN said.
Camilla Waszink of the Norwegian Refugee Council described the appeal's acknowledgement that millions would not be reached as devastating.
When the richest people on Earth can go to space as a tourist and trillions of US dollars are used annually on global military expenditure, it is incomprehensible that we as an international community are unable to find the necessary funding to provide displaced families with shelter and prevent children from dying of hunger, she said.
- 'Under attack' -
Even more than funding woes, Fletcher said the biggest barrier to assisting and protecting people in armed conflict was the widespread violation of international law.
This year has already been the deadliest for humanitarian workers, surpassing the 2023 toll of 280 killed.
The global humanitarian system is overstretched, it's underfunded and it's literally under attack, he said.
Meanwhille, fears abound that Donald Trump's looming return to the presidency in the United States -- the world's largest humanitarian donor -- could see aid agency budgets cut further.
Fletcher said he planned to spend a lot of time in Washington in the coming months to engage with the new administration.
But the much tougher global climate (is) not just about America, Fletcher said.
- 'Unconscionable' -
A record 123 million people were living displaced from their homes due to conflict by mid-2024, while one in every five children globally is currently living in or fleeing conflict zones, according to UN figures.
The suffering behind the numbers is all the more unconscionable for being man-made, Fletcher said.
Wars in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine are marked by the ferocity and intensity of the killing, the complete disregard for international law, and the deliberate obstruction of our humanitarian movement's effort to save lives.
Numerous old crises remain unresolved, with average humanitarian operations now spanning a decade, the UN said.
The longer they last, the bleaker the prospects, Fletcher warned.
Even more worryingly, he said, was how conflicts were increasingly converging with the climate-induced disasters that are ravaging communities, devastating food systems and driving mass displacement.