UN Chief Warns of Devastating Consequences as U.S. Cuts Humanitarian Funding

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the impact of recent U.S. funding cuts to humanitarian and development programs, calling the decision deeply concerning and potentially devastating for millions of vulnerable people worldwide.

Speaking at UN headquarters, Guterres expressed alarm over reports from UN agencies and humanitarian organizations detailing the immediate consequences of the cuts. He said the reductions affect critical aid efforts, including lifesaving assistance, post-war recovery, and global security initiatives. The loss of funding, he stressed, will have dire effects on crisis zones across the globe, leaving communities without food, healthcare, and essential support.

The secretary-general highlighted Afghanistan, where more than nine million people will be deprived of health and protection services as mobile health teams are forced to suspend operations. 

In Syria’s northeast, where 2.5 million people rely on humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of U.S. support will leave large portions of the population increasingly vulnerable. In Ukraine, cash-based assistance that reached one million people in 2024 has been halted, while in South Sudan, funding for refugee support programs has run out, pushing already overcrowded border areas into further crisis.

The impact extends beyond humanitarian relief. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime will be forced to shut down many of its counter-narcotics programs, including efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis, while anti-human trafficking activities will be severely reduced. At the same time, funding for programs aimed at fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera has come to an abrupt stop.

Guterres acknowledged the pivotal role the United States has played in global humanitarian efforts over the years, emphasizing that American generosity has been instrumental in assisting more than 100 million people annually. However, he warned that the decision to cut funding would not only harm those in need but also diminish the U.S.’s influence and humanitarian leadership on the world stage. He urged Washington to reconsider, warning that the move would ultimately undermine both global stability and American interests.

As UN agencies scramble to adjust their operations in response to the shortfall, Guterres assured that humanitarian coordinators are revising strategies to preserve as much lifesaving aid as possible. He also called on other nations to step up and help fill the funding gap, reiterating the UN’s commitment to delivering aid in the most efficient and accountable manner.

Beyond the funding crisis, Guterres turned his attention to the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Ahead of his visit to Cairo next week for an emergency summit of the League of Arab States, he painted a grim picture of the devastation, describing Gaza as a place of “death, displacement, hunger, and disease.” He stressed the urgent need to uphold the ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid, and ensure the protection of civilians.

The secretary-general also outlined key principles for Gaza’s reconstruction, emphasizing that international law must be upheld, forced displacement prevented, and Israel’s security concerns addressed. He insisted that Gaza must remain part of an independent Palestinian state and warned against any long-term Israeli military presence in the territory.

As the international community grapples with overlapping crises, Guterres issued a final plea for unity and action. He reiterated that the world cannot afford to scale back humanitarian aid at a time when millions are suffering, and he called for renewed efforts to advance a political solution for lasting peace in the Middle East. The challenges ahead, he said, demand immediate and collective resolve.