Millions at Risk of Starvation as US Cuts Food Aid: UN Reports

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations has issued a warning that millions of individuals across 14 nations are facing severe hunger due to the unexpected cessation of emergency food assistance by the United States.

The World Food Programme (WFP), already struggling with a 40 percent reduction in funding this year, reported being informed about the new halt in American aid to these 14 countries.

Although the agency did not specify which countries are affected in a statement on X, they highlighted the serious ramifications of this decision.

“If enforced, this could serve as a death sentence for millions confronting extreme hunger and potential starvation,” the agency warned.

The WFP is not alone in facing cuts from U.S. funding; other UN entities are also experiencing financial challenges as the current U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, adopts a more isolationist stance, ceasing widespread support for international humanitarian efforts.

On Monday, the Trump administration notified the UN Population Fund, an organization focused on sexual and reproductive health, that funding for two of their programs would be terminated—one aimed at Afghanistan and another concerning Syria, according to reports by AFP.

In addition to the U.S., various other nations have also begun scaling back their financial aid in recent months, raising concerns among non-governmental organizations and global agencies.

The Trump administration has significantly reduced the budget of USAID, the U.S. agency responsible for providing humanitarian assistance, slashing it from a previous annual budget of $42.8 billion, which accounted for 42 percent of all global aid expenditures.