USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths by 2030

The U.S. government's drastic reduction in funding for international humanitarian aid is having severe consequences for global health. This was reported by the BBC. According to a new analysis published in the prestigious medical journal “The Lancet,” this policy under the administration of Donald Trump could result in over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030.

The study notes that one-third of these deaths will be among children under the age of five. This means an average of 700,000 children’s lives will be at risk each year.

In March 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that over 80% of the programs run by USAID — the United States Agency for International Development — had been terminated. This decision was explained as part of the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce the number of federal employees and manage aid programs “more efficiently” through the State Department.

According to David Rassella, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and co-author of the report, “for many low- and middle-income countries, this financial blow will have a negative impact equivalent to a global pandemic or a major armed conflict.”

Researchers point out that from 2001 to 2021, USAID-funded programs helped save 91 million lives. Their modeled projections suggest that an 83% funding cut will seriously damage healthcare systems and could undo the gains made over the past two decades.

These findings were released in the context of the largest humanitarian conference being held by the United Nations in Seville, Spain. World leaders gathered at this summit to discuss the future and financial sustainability of humanitarian aid.

According to UN staff, the decrease in U.S. funding has led to historically low food rations in refugee camps in several countries, including Kenya. One hospital in the city of Kakuma reportedly encountered severe cases of motionless infants with peeling skin.

Previously, USAID played a critical role in health, food security, and education in more than 60 countries. Today, the future of these vital programs remains uncertain. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!