The World Health Organization said on Tuesday it was seeking $1 billion to respond to health emergencies this year, about a third less than last year, as donor funding declines and uncertainty grows over the position of the United States, previously its largest donor, Reuters reported.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the WHO’s executive director for health emergencies, told a news conference in Geneva: “We are focusing on the people most in need, where we can save the greatest number of lives.”

He said the funding would be allocated to up to 36 health emergencies worldwide, including crises in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.

“We are extremely concerned about the scale of the needs and how they can be met,” Ihekweazu added.