World Vison leads urgent call to address humanitarian crisis
Press Release, 5th December 2024- In a united response to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, 109 organisations, including World Vision, have issued an urgent statement highlighting the critical state of global humanitarian needs.
The statement, delivered during the Geneva launch of OCHA’s Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) for 2025 by Isabel Gomes, World Vision’s Global Lead for Humanitarian Response, presents a harrowing picture of the current humanitarian landscape.
"We are witnessing unspeakable human suffering due to the proliferation of conflicts lacking political solutions and the normalisation of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL). Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, the bombing of schools and hospitals, and the use of starvation and sexual violence as methods of warfare are devastating communities worldwide," said Gomes.
The Joint NGO Statement highlights the severe impact of chronic underfunding and calls for urgent, unified global action to address financial shortfalls and ease the growing human suffering driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability.
By the end of 2024, only 43 per cent of the $50 billion humanitarian appeal had been met, forcing aid organisations to make severe cuts. Food assistance in Syria was reduced by 80 per cent, critical protection services in Myanmar were scaled back, and water and sanitation programmes in Yemen were curtailed, even as cholera outbreaks surged.
"Children are being starved, exposed to unimaginable violence, orphaned, and killed. We know this is painful for the world to witness, but we beg you not to turn a blind eye. Now is the time to act and prioritise the needs of vulnerable children who are disproportionately suffering due to conflict, the climate crisis, and disregard for humanitarian principles." says Amanda Rives, World Vision senior Director for External Engagement & Resource Development, said.
The Joint NGO Statement urges donors and stakeholders to fully fund the 2025 GHO and to provide quality funding early in the year to enable flexible and timely humanitarian action. It emphasises the need to prioritise traditionally underfunded sectors such as gender-based violence (GBV), education, and child protection in emergencies.
It also calls for increased financial support for local and national actors, particularly women-led organisations, whose leadership and contributions are crucial in crisis response. Ensuring accountability to affected populations and involving them meaningfully in decision-making processes is essential to these efforts.
As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, the statement emphasises the pressing need to uphold international humanitarian law. It calls on parties to conflicts to honour their legal obligations and urges governments to use their influence to ensure consistent compliance.
Please find the full Joint Statement here: Joint NGO Statement - Humanitarian Overview 2025
ENDS
World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
For all media enquires or spokespeople in relation to this story, please contact our media team.
