The United Nations is predicting 135.7 million people worldwide will need humanitarian assistance in 2018, an increase over this year. More than 76 million people are projected to need emergency food assistance in 2018as well.

Conflict is the prime driver of food insecurity in places like South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen, while shortages brought on by drought and fueled by climate events continues to plague the Horn of Africa. These estimates do not reflect the additional urgent needs of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the Hurricane Irma response and recovery in the Caribbean islands.

Given these daunting circumstances, we urge Congress and the budget negotiators to quickly arrive at a budget deal to avoid automatic spending cuts and provide at least the same amount of funding for critical humanitarian, development and diplomacy programs as enacted for fiscal 2017.

Congress may provide funding for military increases, and it is critical that they complement this with funding for humanitarian assistance, as it likely will reduce the need for costly U.S. military engagement. Defense, diplomacy, and development each play critical and complementary roles in U.S. foreign policy.

Read the full article about the importance of funding U.S.'s humanitarian efforts by Sean Callahan and Abby Maxman at The Hill