OCHA Annual Report 2017

OCHA’s Annual Report highlights how OCHA coordinates response around the globe to alleviate suffering. The report takes stock of OCHA’s actions and activities during 2017, highlighting the role of OCHA, Member States, and other United Nations and civil-society partners in ensuring that the most vulnerable people in crises received timely and quality humanitarian assistance.

The report also outlines the restructuring process within OCHA, which has helped the organization to refocus on its core mandate by doing less, but doing it better. The change process is rooted in bringing together the best of OCHA to help humanitarian partners save and protect lives. 

At the beginning of 2017, more than 128 million people needed humanitarian assistance in 33 countries. By the end of the year, that number had risen to 141 million. This was due to protracted complex crises, escalating conflict in several countries, climate change-induced vulnerability and a series of natural disasters.

OCHA appealed for US$22.2 billion — the largest humanitarian appeal ever launched — and it stepped up to the challenge, helping to provide for the vulnerable and protect them in the face of famine, disease, hurricanes, conflicts and other disasters.

In 2017, the humanitarian aid system dealt with four Level 3 emergencies (DRC, Iraq, Syria and Yemen) and four corporate emergencies (Rohingya crisis, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Somalia).