Catastrophic US Aid Suspension Results in Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths Globally

The sudden and indefinite suspension of the United States’ foreign aid has triggered a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale, exacerbated significantly by the administration’s continued failure to publish the findings of a critical review it promised to undertake, according to UN human rights experts.

In an urgent letter addressed to the US government, the experts highlighted alarming data indicating nearly 100 individuals are dying hourly since President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14169 on January 20, 2025, effectively halting all foreign aid pending a comprehensive policy review. Estimates indicate that more than 350,000 lives have already been lost as a direct result of this suspension, including over 200,000 children.

"This devastating decision by the US administration is an urgent humanitarian crisis, not a mere policy shift," the UN experts warned. "The poorest and most vulnerable populations around the globe are paying with their lives for opaque and reckless decision-making made by individuals in one of the wealthiest nations in history."

Freshly released statistics provided to the experts underscore the severe consequences of the aid freeze, compounded by additional funding cuts to United Nations programs. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), responsible for global sexual and reproductive health, projects that at least 32 million individuals will be deprived of critical healthcare services due to these aid disruptions. Similarly, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that approximately 12.8 million displaced people risk losing access to essential life-saving medical treatments, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns that emergency aid for nearly 10 million individuals hangs in the balance.

Executive Order 14169 explicitly mandated a 90-day comprehensive evaluation of US foreign aid programs to assess their alignment with national priorities. However, six months after the original deadline, crucial health, food security, and humanitarian initiatives remain indefinitely suspended or entirely canceled. The promised review has yet to be disclosed, leaving stakeholders and the global community without clarity or justification for the drastic measures implemented.

"The complete absence of transparency, accountability, and credible reasoning for these decisions is deeply concerning and unacceptable," the experts emphasized.

Further complicating matters, the experts raised serious concerns regarding a recent directive issued by the US State Department instructing all American embassies to prepare for the abolition of all USAID overseas positions by September 30, 2025. This sweeping decision, they argue, will further dismantle the vital infrastructure necessary for delivering life-sustaining aid in impoverished regions across the world.

"The decision to dismantle these positions without publicly revealing the results of the mandated review, particularly regarding the severe implications for poverty alleviation and human rights, is profoundly troubling," the experts stated. "Such critical decisions require transparency and comprehensive consultation, neither of which has been adequately addressed."

Additionally, they highlighted the troubling lack of meaningful dialogue or consultations with key stakeholders, including affected UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other implementing partners who play a crucial role in executing US-funded humanitarian programs.

Historically, the United States has been a foundational pillar in global development and poverty eradication efforts. However, this abrupt policy reversal has not only jeopardized decades of progress but actively contributes to a global regression in humanitarian conditions, leaving millions at risk.

"We strongly urge the United States government to reaffirm its commitment to the international human rights framework it once championed," the experts concluded, "and to restore the essential funding immediately to prevent further irreversible damage and loss of life."