UNFPA clinic opened after Nepal earthquake. US aid suspension threatens well-being of women and children, UN warns Humanitarian aid
UN humanitarian agencies have expressed concern over the US decision to suspend funding for foreign aid programs. Representatives of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this at a press conference in Geneva on Tuesday.
OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke noted that UN offices around the world are in close contact with US embassies to assess the scale of the impact.
“On January 24, the US administration suspended almost all foreign aid programmes for 90 days. As a result, UNFPA suspended services funded by US grants that are a lifeline for women and girls in crisis situations, such as in South Asia,” said Pio Smith, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.
He highlighted the serious impact of the reduction in support, particularly in Afghanistan, where UNFPA projects that the lack of US funding could lead to 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 unintended pregnancies between 2025 and 2028.
“This is not just about numbers,” Smith said. “What happens when our work is not funded? Women give birth alone in unsanitary conditions. The risk of obstetric fistula increases, newborns die from preventable causes. Victims of gender-based violence have no access to medical or psychological support.”
The United States has historically been the largest donor to global humanitarian efforts. Laerke noted that last year the country accounted for 47 percent of funding for global humanitarian requests. “This gives an idea of how important this is in the current situation, given the signals we are receiving from the government,” the OCHA representative said.
Alexandra Vellucci, Director of the UN Information Service in Geneva, noted that the world organization is ready to listen to constructive criticism and work to improve relations.
“Public accusations will not save a single life,” Jens Laerke emphasized in turn.