Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher is the United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and emergency relief chief. He is newsworthy due to the UN's recent struggles with funding cuts from major donor nations like the United States and Europe. These cuts have forced the UN to drastically reduce its 2026 aid appeal, requesting only half the amount needed despite record-high global humanitarian needs. Fletcher has publicly stated that UN agencies are "under attack" due to these funding reductions. His role is significant as he is responsible for coordinating the UN's response to global humanitarian crises, a task made increasingly difficult by the shrinking budget and increasing instability worldwide. He recently worked with the US Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Jeremy Lewin, on a $2 billion aid pledge, but was also warned by the US to "adapt or die."