The African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launch the Global Humanitarian Appeal for 2024

 A Call for US$46 billion to help 181 million people with life-saving assistance and protection

The African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) co-hosted the official launch of the 2024 Global Humanitarian Overview in Addis Ababa.

The event was held at the African Union, in the presence of H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessoume, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development; Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division of OCHA; H.E. Amb. Shiferaw Teklemariam, Commissioner, Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) on behalf of H.E. Mr. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Video remarks from United Nations Secretary-General H.E. Antonio Guterres was also presented.

In 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other drivers. In the coming year, 74.1 million people will need humanitarian assistance in East and Southern Africa. In West and Central Africa, 65.1 million people are in need. In the Middle East and North Africa, 53.8 million people require assistance.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, -H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, extended on behalf of H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, warm regards and appreciation to all partners and friends of Africa joining the launch from across the continent and beyond. “This report is being launched in Addis Ababa, Doha and Geneva. This is the second year that the AU and OCHA jointly launch. The AU Commission took decision for a joint launch event because of the importance of this report and renewed collaboration between AU Commission and OCHA following the reopening of the OCHA Liaison Office to AU.”

The Commissioner added, “As you are also aware, the Commission annually submits a humanitarian report to the Assembly, statistics in the Global Humanitarian Overview are useful in outlining the forced displacement trends and challenges faced especially in financing.”

Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma noted the complex humanitarian situation in the continent “In Africa, the humanitarian situation is increasingly complex due to rising terrorism in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, along with the recent impacts of climate change such as floods and El Nino rains affecting Eastern and Southern Africa. The upward trend in humanitarian challenges is evident, with 40 million people experiencing forced displacement on the continent. This includes 7 million refugees, over half a million asylum-seekers, 28 million internally displaced persons, and 4.2 million returnees requiring assistance. Additionally, 1 million people are living as stateless individuals. Africa bears a disproportionate burden, hosting the largest population of displaced persons globally, representing one in every five refugees and one-third of the total internally displaced population worldwide. Furthermore, Africa faces significant food insecurity, with approximately 146 million people in 35 countries across the continent experiencing acute food insecurity in 2023,” said Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma.

Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma concluded by thanking all AU member states that have opened up their borders to received displaced persons in their territories in the spirit of Pan-Africanism and brotherhood. The Commissioner thanked the humanitarian partners for the good work to mobilize the International Community to support member states that carry the burden of hosting large numbers of refugees in their countries as well as those faced with humanitarian emergencies in Africa through the spirit of burden sharing.

“2023 saw human suffering on an epic and heartbreaking scale,” with brutal conflicts and climate chaos making life a hell on earth for millions of people around the world, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

He pointed to what he called “glimmers of hope,” including the humanitarian community staying and delivering in some of the world’s most dangerous places, having reached 128 million people in 2023 with food, shelter, medicine, water, sanitation and protection with just one-third of the resources needed.

Mr. Guterres said that the United Nations seeks $46.4 billion to help 180.5 million people in 2024, stressing that “we cannot turn our backs on human suffering.”

Addressing the Addis Abab event, Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division of OCHA, noted that 2023 has been another monumentally challenging year. “As we approach 2024, almost 300 million people around the world are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection,” he said, noting 47 per cent of these people are in Africa, representing the largest geographic share of the Global Humanitarian Overview.”

Calling on the international community to redouble efforts to address the root causes of humanitarian needs, Mr. Rajasingham warned that humanitarian action at best can only stem the crisis. “We need more than ever to put everyday people, particularly the most vulnerable and those affected by crises, at the centre of our discourse, diplomacy and decision-making.”

H.E. Amb. Shiferaw Teklemariam, on behalf of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia thanked the AU Commission and UN OCHA for hosting the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as an important milestone in the humanitarian operations "On behalf of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia I would like to take the opportunity to thank the AU Commission and  OCHA for co-hosting this important event, the Launch of 2024 Global Humanitarian needs Overview in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the second time. As I speak to you today, the Horn of Africa is facing multiple humanitarian challenges one over the other. Every year records of disasters are becoming the norms, other than exceptions. Africa in general and the Horn of Africa in particular is experiencing the heaviest toll of the climate change,” said Amb. Shiferaw Teklemariam.

Amb. Shiferaw Teklemariam noted that the Government of Ethiopia is allocating substantial amount of resources to address humanitarian causes nationwide annually through the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC). “These resources are the basis to what our partners and donors are putting in Ethiopia based on the Humanitarian Requirement Plan. It is worth noting that out of the $3.99 Billion Ethiopia’s Humanitarian requirement Plan for 2023, only 30% is funded. Out of the target beneficiaries only 30 per cent received the much needed support,” said Amb. Shiferaw Teklemariam. He concluded by reiterating the commitment of the Government of Ethiopia to work with all concerned institutions on disasters management for prosperous Ethiopia, Africa and the world.

For further information, kindly contact:
Ms. Rita Amukhobu | Head Humanitarian Affairs Division, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | E-mail: amukhobur@africa- union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

         2.Ms. Raheela Chaudhry | Public Information Officer | United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs | E-mail: raheela.chaudhry@un.org I Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For further information please contact:

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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