AID CUTS LEAVE ONE MILLION WOMEN WITHOUT SUPPORT

At least one million women and girls have lost access to critical humanitarian support since January 2025 following unprecedented aid cuts, according to UN Women, the UN's gender equality agency. The funding reductions have pushed women's organisations operating in crisis zones towards collapse, the agency said on Friday. The cuts have affected services across multiple regions where women face heightened vulnerability.

The United States initiated the reduction in foreign assistance in 2025, with other major donor nations subsequently implementing similar cuts. The scale of funding withdrawal has forced humanitarian organisations to scale back or cease programmes that provide essential services to vulnerable populations. UN Women indicated that the reduction represents an unprecedented level of aid curtailment affecting gender-focused humanitarian work.

The funding shortfall carries significant implications for women's safety, health and economic security in conflict-affected and disaster-stricken areas. Organisations specialising in women's support have signalled they lack sufficient resources to maintain current service levels. UN Women's statement underscores the interconnected nature of donor funding decisions and their cascading effects on vulnerable populations dependent on humanitarian assistance.