UN Humanitarian Crisis: Funding Cuts Threaten Aid to Millions

KAKUMA, Kenya (AP) — In a refugee camp in northern Kenya, Aujene Cimanimpaye anxiously waits for a hot lunch of lentils and sorghum to be served to her and her nine children. Since fleeing her war-torn home in Congo in 2007, Cimanimpaye has relied on United Nations assistance, unable to return due to ongoing violence. “We cannot go back home because people are still being killed,” the 41-year-old remarked from the Kakuma camp, which provides support to over 300,000 refugees through various UN agencies.

Three years ago, Cimanimpaye’s family relocated from Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda to Kenya, a country now hosting over a million refugees from conflict-affected areas in East Africa. Nearby, at the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement, fellow refugee Bahati Musaba, a mother of five, shared her gratitude for the support her family has received. “U.N. agencies have supported my children’s education — we get food and water and even medicine,” she noted, highlighting the crucial role of cash assistance in purchasing essentials. However, this year, many of these U.N. aid activities, including cash transfers, have been halted, putting millions at risk.

A Growing Humanitarian Crisis

As the U.N. marks its 80th anniversary, its humanitarian agencies are facing one of their most significant funding crises. Major contributors, particularly the United States under the Trump administration, have dramatically reduced international aid. This shift has led to internal conflicts among U.N. agencies vying for dwindling resources, a situation described by a diplomat from a leading donor country who chose to remain anonymous.

Humanitarian organizations warn that these funding pressures threaten the fundamental mission of the U.N. to deliver lifesaving aid amid global crises. Former U.N. humanitarian aid chief, Jan Egeland, now at the helm of the Norwegian Refugee Council, expressed concern: “It’s the most abrupt upheaval of humanitarian work in the U.N. in my 40 years as a humanitarian worker, by far.”

Brutal Cuts Impact Aid Operations

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has instructed heads of U.N. agencies to consider cutting 20% of their staff amidst these financial strains. Such cuts jeopardize the ongoing delivery of essential services in conflict zones and refugee camps worldwide.

The WFP and U.N. refugee agencies heavily depend on U.S. funding, which comprised at least 40% of their total budgets. With the Trump administration slashing roughly $60 billion in U.S. foreign aid, these agencies are resorting to layoffs and significant reductions in aid programs.

Struggles Beyond Funding

Compounding the challenges faced by humanitarian workers are geopolitical tensions that disrupt aid efforts. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) provides crucial services in the Middle East. Yet, political claims against its effectiveness complicate its operations, particularly as funding dwindles. “If it wasn’t for UNRWA we would die of starvation,” shared Ibtisam Salem, a single mother benefiting from their support.

The Road Ahead for U.N. Humanitarian Efforts

With a staggering 343 million people estimated to be food insecure worldwide this year, the need for humanitarian assistance is soaring even as resources dwindle. The WFP plans to cut about a quarter of its workforce to adjust to these challenges, raising questions about the future effectiveness of U.N. aid.

Experts emphasize the necessity for the U.N. to adapt as global cooperation wanes. Achim Steiner, administrator of the U.N. Development Program, remarked, “We need to take that debate back into our countries, into our capitals, because it is there that you either empower the U.N. to act and succeed — or you paralyze it.”

Conclusion

The ongoing challenges for U.N. humanitarian agencies underscore the need for collective action and support from the global community. As funding cuts threaten vital assistance to millions, the future of humanitarian efforts may depend on renewed commitment from member states to address both immediate and long-term needs.