In a shocking revelation, a new report published in The Lancet has estimated that drastic cuts to the US humanitarian aid budget could lead to over 14 million additional deaths by 2030. The research, which comes at a critical time as world leaders gather for a UN-sponsored aid conference in Seville, indicates that a significant portion of those affected could be children, as approximately one third of the projected deaths are among this vulnerable demographic.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated in March that the Trump administration had decided to cancel more than 80% of the programs managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These cuts aim to realign foreign aid with Trump's "America First" policy, which has been controversial and widely condemned by humanitarian groups. The report illustrates a potential humanitarian disaster, comparing the shock from these funding cuts to crises stemming from pandemics and major conflicts.
Co-author of the report, Davide Rasella from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, highlighted the long-term progress in health and wellbeing that could be reversed. The researchers estimate that USAID interventions have already prevented over 90 million deaths since 2001, and an 83% decrease in funding could cause a catastrophic rise in mortality, particularly among children under five.
Amidst these cuts, other nations including the UK, France, and Germany have also reduced their aid budgets, following the US's lead. This trend has gained serious concern, as the UN warned last month about unprecedented funding cuts in the humanitarian sector. Reports from aid workers indicate worsening conditions, with stories emerging of serious malnutrition and starvation in Kenyan refugee camps due to reduced food assistance linked to US funding decreases.
Despite the dire outlook, some officials, including Rubio, have suggested that programs remaining would be managed "more effectively" under different departments, yet field reports indicate improvement is minimal. The ongoing challenges call into question the future effectiveness of international aid to vulnerable populations in the face of such substantial cuts.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated in March that the Trump administration had decided to cancel more than 80% of the programs managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These cuts aim to realign foreign aid with Trump's "America First" policy, which has been controversial and widely condemned by humanitarian groups. The report illustrates a potential humanitarian disaster, comparing the shock from these funding cuts to crises stemming from pandemics and major conflicts.
Co-author of the report, Davide Rasella from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, highlighted the long-term progress in health and wellbeing that could be reversed. The researchers estimate that USAID interventions have already prevented over 90 million deaths since 2001, and an 83% decrease in funding could cause a catastrophic rise in mortality, particularly among children under five.
Amidst these cuts, other nations including the UK, France, and Germany have also reduced their aid budgets, following the US's lead. This trend has gained serious concern, as the UN warned last month about unprecedented funding cuts in the humanitarian sector. Reports from aid workers indicate worsening conditions, with stories emerging of serious malnutrition and starvation in Kenyan refugee camps due to reduced food assistance linked to US funding decreases.
Despite the dire outlook, some officials, including Rubio, have suggested that programs remaining would be managed "more effectively" under different departments, yet field reports indicate improvement is minimal. The ongoing challenges call into question the future effectiveness of international aid to vulnerable populations in the face of such substantial cuts.
