The United Nations has cautioned that millions of people in 14 countries are in danger of starvation following the United States’ sudden cessation of emergency food assistance.
The World Food Programme (WFP), already facing a 40 percent decrease in its funding for the current year, reported that it had been informed of the US’s decision to halt aid to these 14 unspecified nations.
In a statement on X, the WFP emphasized the grave consequences of this action. “If implemented, this could amount to a death sentence for millions of people facing extreme hunger and starvation,” the agency stated.
The WFP is not the sole UN agency affected by US funding reductions. Under President Donald Trump, the United States has adopted a more isolationist stance, significantly reducing its international aid efforts.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on sexual and reproductive health, informed AFP on Monday that the Trump administration had terminated two of its programs, one in Afghanistan and another in Syria.
Several countries besides the US have also announced cuts to their funding in recent months, raising concerns among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international bodies.
The Trump administration has significantly reduced the budget of USAID, the primary US organization for humanitarian assistance. Previously, USAID had an annual budget of $42.8 billion, representing 42 percent of all global aid disbursement.
