The Humanitarian UN Office (Ocha), which uses around 2,600 people worldwide, will reduce its staff by 20% and lighten its operations in several countries. This due to US financial cuts, announced to his boss, Tom Fletcher, in a letter to employees, this Thursday, April 10.
“The context we face is more difficult to carry out our mission (…) The humanitarian community was already decreasing, overwhelmed and attacked.
Throughout the letter obtained this Friday by AFP, it refers directly to the United States, which until then was the “main taxpayer” to the Ocha programs budget with more than $ 60 million per year.
Donald Trump’s administration has abolished 83% of the USAID USAID Development Agency programs, which until now has administered an annual budget of $ 42.8 billion, or 42% of humanitarian aid worldwide.
Reduced presence in several countries
In this context, since February, Ocha has taken austerity measures to save $ 3.7 million and implemented measures to improve work methods.
But now is the moment of “difficult options,” said Tom Fletcher, insisting that these elections were linked to budget cuts “and not to a reduction in humanitarian needs” that only increase. “In general, we will reduce our workforce by 20%,” he said.
“Ocha currently has the registration of around 2,600 people in more than 60 countries. The lack of funds means that we are trying to group around a workforce of around 2,100 people in fewer countries,” he said, saying that we wait at the end of June a report of leaders of the division in places “where to stop and reduce our work.”
But he already indicated that the office would reduce the amount of management positions and also “their presence and their operations” in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey and Zimbabwe.
A financial deficit of almost $ 60 million
“I know it is not easy. We believe passionately in our work, for good reasons. But we cannot continue doing everything,” he deplored, describing a financial deficit of almost 60 million dollars for Ocha humanitarian plans in 2025.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which used almost 20,000 people at the end of September, also said at the end of March to expect a “significant reduction” of its workforce due to lack of American unexpected gain.
In March, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, launched an internal examination process aimed at “more effective” the UN system that faces chronic budgetary difficulties, reinforced by US President’s policies.
This initiative called “UNU80”, in reference to the 80th anniversary of the organization this year, is responsible for identifying possible savings and efficiency gains in several directions. Especially within the Secretariat, of which Ocha is part.
Source: BFM TV
