Australia’s total humanitarian aid to six of the worst crises in the world amounted to $101 million last financial year, equivalent to just 0.87% of the $11.5 billion the Federal Government provided in fossil fuel subsidies, according to new analysis by Save the Children.
The $11.5 billion in tax cuts provided to fossil fuel producers and major users last financial year is more than 100 times the $101 million provided to the six worst humanitarian crises and more than double the $4.9 billion that was committed to the overall foreign aid budget in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
There are six countries and territories where at least half the population requires humanitarian assistance: Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territories, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen,[1] with a total of almost 100 million people in need, including at least 52 million children.
Save the Children’s analysis of Federal Budget documents, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) statements, and the United Nations’ financial tracking service shows that Australia provided $21 million to Afghanistan, $47 million to the occupied Palestinian territories, $23 million to Sudan, and $10 million to Syria in the 12 months to 30 June. Australia did not provide any emergency aid to South Sudan or Yemen during this period.[2]
DFAT does not publicly provide a breakdown of where humanitarian funding is allocated and did not share the figures with Save the Children when requested.[3]
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler said that the Federal Government has a choice as to where it allocates taxpayer funds, and at the moment it is heavily subsidising the fossil fuel industry, while children around the world suffer from avoidable harm.
“In just the last 12 months, there have been earthquakes in Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan, floods in Nepal and Libya, and cyclones in Vanuatu and Bangladesh, all while more and more people are displaced and pushed into famine-like conditions in war-torn Gaza and Sudan. Now, just in recent weeks, we’ve seen more than a million people displaced by an escalation of fighting in Lebanon,” he said.
“Australians are generous people, and we believe they would support the redirection of even a fraction of the tax cuts given to the fossil fuel industry, which could make a lifesaving difference to the millions of children suffering from war, hunger, disease, and displacement globally – much of which is being worsened by the impacts of the climate crisis.”
The United Nations says donors globally need to provide AU$28.5 billion to respond to these six emergencies, but wealthy countries have committed just 22.1% to date.
Australia has provided a further $36.9 million to other countries, including Ukraine, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Libya, Morocco, Vanuatu and Nepal, bringing our total emergency funding contribution to $137.9 million, drawn from Australia’s $150 million annual Humanitarian Emergency Fund [2] allocation.
Mr Tinkler said reducing fossil fuel subsidies would provide the Federal Government with additional revenue to not only increase humanitarian aid but to also provide additional support to Australians who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, such as farmers, and Australians hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis.
“While the Australian Government has committed to reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions to 43% by 2030, research shows that once you factor in the billions of tonnes of fossil fuel exports, Australia is actually one of the largest contributors to global warming and climate change,” he said.
“Redirecting even a portion of the funds from fossil fuel tax cuts to humanitarian aid and other measures such as targeting cost of living or responding to family and domestic violence would be a win-win for all children. Not only would this support make a significant difference in the lives of those in need, but it would also demonstrate the government’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis - a challenge that impacts all children.”
Save the Children has called on the Federal Government to double the Humanitarian Emergency Fund to $300 million so that Australia can adequately respond to increasingly intense conflicts and climate-related disasters as they emerge.
As part of the Safer World for All campaign, Save the Children is also calling on the Federal Government to increase Australia’s aid budget from 0.68% of the federal budget to at least 1% by FY26-27.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Joshua McDonald on 0478 010 972 or media.team@savethechildren.org.au.
NOTES TO EDITOR
[1] The collated figures only include emergency humanitarian funding and do not include overseas development assistance funding allocated in the Federal Budget.
[2] The Humanitarian Emergency Fund is the key source of funding for the Australian Government to respond to humanitarian needs as they emerge.
[3] DFAT publishes an annual Official Development Assistance Statistical Summary that includes a breakdown of humanitarian funding to countries in the Pacific and parts of Asia but groups other countries into regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa. The Statistical Summaries do not include a breakdown of how humanitarian funds were delivered, such as the Humanitarian Emergency Fund.