UN Suspends Medical Aid for Refugees in Egypt Due to Funding Cuts

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Monday that it has suspended medical aid for refugees in Egypt due to severe funding cuts.

A spokesperson for the UNHCR, based in Geneva, stated that around 20,000 patients will be affected by the decision. She added that treatments for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases will be impacted.

"From now on, the UN agency can only fund emergency care in life-threatening cases," the spokesperson said.

Many of those affected are Sudanese refugees, she noted.

The funding crisis follows the U.S. government's decision, under former President Donald Trump, to cut most foreign aid contracts. The move led to a $60 billion reduction in overall U.S. foreign assistance, significantly affecting organizations such as the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and regional governments.

The suspension of medical aid is expected to have a devastating impact on refugees in Egypt, many of whom rely on UNHCR support for critical healthcare services.