US slashes UN humanitarian aid from $17 billion to $2 billion
The United States had traditionally provided approximately $17 billion funding for UN humanitarian aid. However, President Donald Trump reduced that to $2 billion, sent to a specific UN agency, and detailing which countries get the aid. Trump’s Truth Social posts provide some hints on his justification for the move. Trump is calling for the UN to engage in reforms that would make it more effective and efficient. Some are forecasting some negative impacts that this reduction would have on certain groups of people.
From Al Jazeera:
It comes as critics have levelled sharp criticism against the US’s dramatic aid reductions under Trump, leading to deaths and hunger as millions around the world lose shelter, sustenance and other essential aid.
The $2bn will create a pool of funds that can be directed at specific countries or crises, with 17 countries — including Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Syria and Ukraine — initially targeted.
Afghanistan is not included on the list, nor is Palestine, which officials say will be covered by money included in Trump’s yet-to-be-completed Gaza plan.
Dire outcomes as Western countries pull back aid
Earlier this month, the UN launched a 2026 appeal for $23bn — half the amount it needs — as the extent of Western funding losses became clear.
The UN had previously warned in June it would be forced to enact substantial programme reductions amid “the deepest funding cuts ever” to the international aid sector.
Trump has effectively dismantled the US’s primary platform for foreign aid, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), as his administration has called upon UN agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in response to its approach.
Other Western countries, including Germany, have also slashed funding.
The fallout across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa has been swift.
In July, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said more than 11 million refugees would lose access to aid. At the time, the agency had received just 23 percent of its $10.6bn budget, and expected an overall budget of only $3.5bn by the end of the year to meet the needs of 122 million people.
Basic services for Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh were at risk of collapsing, UNHCR said, while education for more than 230,000 Rohingya children was expected to be suspended.
The same month, the UN predicted a surge in HIV/AIDS deaths by 2029 due to the funding withdrawals, while the French charity Doctors Without Borders said more than 650 children had died from malnutrition in Nigeria as a direct result of international aid cuts.
Additional Reading:
Al Jazeera Staff & News Agencies. US slashes UN humanitarian aid to $2bn, huge cut as Trump demands reforms. Al Jazeera. Link.
Category: Donald Trump, International Affairs
Hear that?
Sounds like a derailed gravy train
Still not tired of winning!
The west has been supporting these countries ever since sailing vessels landed on their coasts. EVERYTHING they have beyond mud huts and spears has come from the west. These “nations” have contributed NOTHING to the advancement of mankind, and it’s LONG past time they either sort their own shit out, or go the way of the Dodo… We need to bring back Darwin!
Those look like New York plates on the truck.
The color may be right, but they’re too long and narrow.
Out-of-country plates.
Poetic license.
…..plate.
Good.
No point in paying foreign countries to hate “us” when they can hate “us” for free.
The UN will issue a strongly worded letter condemning the U.S., and that’s about it.
Let them pay for it.
“Let them pay for it.”
The UN is like all other Gooberments.
By themselves, they create nothing worthwhile to buy/sell.
The have to pilfer the pockets of the working stiff for their pulchritude.
And a leftist judge will issue an injunction in 3,2,1….
The judge want it paid, let him/her pay for it out of his/her own pocket.