UN welcomes $1.8 billion US boost for humanitarian operations

The funding announcement, made on Wednesday by the United States, brings total recent US humanitarian support channelled through the UN-coordinated system to $3.8 billion following an earlier $2 billion allocation announced in December .

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the latest contribution, saying it “will allow humanitarians to reach millions of people in the most urgent crises with lifesaving support. ”

Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described the funding as critical at a time when humanitarian agencies are “overstretched, under resourced and literally under attack.”

“ This support will help save millions of lives, ” Mr.…