14 million deaths because of American aid cuts? Shock study!

14 million deaths because of American aid cuts? Shock study!

The global humanitarian situation could worsen dramatically if planned cuts in U.S. funding for international aid programs take effect. According to a worrying study published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, these cuts could cost the lives of over 14 million people by 2030, including a third of them children. The researchers estimate that the dramatic 83% reduction in USAID's funding could jeopardize two decades of progress in health care, worsening the situation for the world's already most vulnerable populations.

Davide Rasella, co-author of the study, emphasizes that the effects are comparable to a global pandemic or a significant armed conflict. These alarming figures were presented during an international conference on financing for development in Spain, which the United States did not attend. The analysis included data from 133 countries and found that USAID's programs prevented an estimated 91 million deaths in low- and middle-income countries between 2001 and 2021. If funding were to actually be cut, over 4.5 million children under five could suffer from the additional deaths.

The size of the challenge

The entire aid network could be significantly affected by the planned cuts. Before the cuts, USAID's share of the U.S. federal budget was just 0.3%. Currently, US citizens pay about 17 cents per day into these aid programs, which roughly equates to $64 per year. James Macinko, another co-author of the study, believes that many people would encourage support for these funds if they knew how effective this small contribution is.

But it's not just US support that is at risk. European countries such as Germany, Great Britain and France have already announced cuts in their aid budgets. This could have a particularly devastating impact on the most vulnerable communities that rely on this assistance.

Need for help

The elimination of these life-saving programs, affecting approximately 10,000 USAID initiatives, is described as catastrophic. David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), says the decision has devastating consequences for IRC's clients and calls on the US government to take into account the need for assistance. Countries such as Sudan, Yemen and Syria, where millions are suffering from war and catastrophic conditions, are particularly affected. At least 39 IRC programs have already been suspended, depriving around 1.8 million people in crisis areas of access to essential services.

The lack of aid payments also has other alarming consequences. According to reports, rising mortality rates may result, and diseases such as Ebola, bird flu and mpox have an increased risk of spreading in developing countries. Tom Wingfield, a British expert, emphasizes: “Diseases do not respect borders.” If the situation escalates in these countries, it could also affect the USA, according to the expert consensus.

If you look at the situation holistically, it is clear: the decision to stop aid has enormous human costs and could significantly affect the USA's reputation as a credible partner in unstable regions. A de-escalation of relief measures is urgently required to ensure the survival of the most disadvantaged sections of the population and to enable a return to a stable state of health.

The world is watching with anticipation to see how these decisions will impact the humanitarian situation and whether action will be taken before it is too late. The challenge ahead is enormous, and it remains to be seen whether those responsible can show a good hand in solving the blockage and maintaining aid.