Monitoring Desk
The United Nations has warned that millions of lives could be lost due to President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend US overseas funding, particularly affecting global AIDS relief efforts.
The United States is the largest provider of development aid, with much of its funding channeled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). However, upon returning to office in January, Trump ordered a three-month freeze on most US foreign assistance, leaving humanitarian organizations struggling to address the crisis.
“It’s dramatic in many countries,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
AIDS Relief in Crisis
A significant part of the suspension includes a 90-day halt on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—a program that supports over 20 million HIV patients and 270,000 healthcare workers worldwide.
Although the Trump administration later granted waivers to allow medication distribution, Byanyima warned that the damage was already being felt.
“I need to sound the alarm. This is a major source of AIDS relief funding. If it disappears, people will die,” she said.
Death Toll Could Rise Tenfold
According to UNAIDS estimates, the freeze could result in:
A tenfold increase in AIDS-related deaths, reaching 6.3 million over five years.
Up to 8.7 million new HIV infections in the same period.
While the US has assured that ‘life-saving treatments’ will be exempt from the freeze, healthcare facilities in Africa have already begun shutting down, with front-line workers facing severe shortages.
Debt Burden Deepens Crisis
Speaking at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Byanyima urged African leaders to shift from foreign aid dependence to domestic revenue generation. However, she acknowledged that many African nations are struggling under massive debts, with some spending over 50% of their entire revenue on debt repayments.
“Part of the solution lies in immediate and comprehensive debt restructuring,” she stressed.
Global Humanitarian Funding at Risk
USAID, established in 1961, has an annual budget exceeding $40 billion, funding development, health, and humanitarian projects worldwide, especially in poorer nations. The current freeze has put many of these critical initiatives at risk, raising concerns about the future of global aid.
