Potential Humanitarian Crisis Looms as U.S. Foreign Aid Sees Major Cuts

A sobering report published in The Lancet warns that cuts to U.S. humanitarian aid—primarily from the Trump administration—could result in 14 million additional deaths globally, signaling a crisis of unprecedented proportions especially affecting vulnerable populations.

The recent initiative by the Trump administration to slash U.S. funding for international humanitarian aid could have catastrophic implications, potentially leading to the deaths of over 14 million people by the year 2030, according to a research study published in The Lancet medical journal. Alarmingly, one-third of those at risk include children, highlighting the dire need for ongoing support in low- and middle-income nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed earlier this year that the Trump administration has cut more than 80% of programs from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This drastic reduction in funds could result in humanitarian fallout comparable to the impact of a global pandemic or a significant conflict, as noted by researcher Davide Rasella from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.

Rasella indicated that the funding cuts could potentially reverse gains made over the past two decades in global health, particularly among the most vulnerable populations. His comments coincide with a critical United Nations-led aid conference in Seville, Spain, gathering world leaders to discuss pressing humanitarian needs.

The study, which analyzed data from 133 different countries, found that USAID funding was instrumental in preventing 91 million deaths across developing regions between 2001 and 2021. Projections stipulate that the current cuts—amounting to an estimated 83% reduction—could lead to a staggering 14 million preventable deaths, including over 4.5 million children under five, resulting in an alarming rate of roughly 700,000 child fatalities annually.

The Trump administration's approach, described as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, aims to reduce federal workforce size while questioning the efficacy of USAID in supporting certain projects. Rubio mentioned that about 1,000 programs will still exist but are to be managed under the State Department with Congress oversight.

Despite the optimism from U.S. officials, the realities on the ground tell a starkly different story, as UN workers highlight the worsening situation. In Kenya, for instance, reports reveal that many individuals are facing severe food shortages in refugee camps due to reduced rations following U.S. funding cuts. The condition of vulnerable infants, including one baby exhibited by the BBC suffering from severe malnourishment, paints a grim picture of the unfolding humanitarian crisis.