The United States has recently announced a $377 million cut in funding for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), sparking great concern over the potential devastating consequences this decision could have for women and girls around the world. According to a statement issued by the UN agency on February 26, UNFPA was notified that almost all of its grants received through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State have been cancelled, affecting a total of 48 projects.
This cut directly impacts critical maternal healthcare, protection against violence, treatment of rape cases, and other vital care in humanitarian settings, particularly in crises currently unfolding in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. UNFPA has been working hard to reduce maternal mortality, improve the safety of childbirth, and combat violence against women in vulnerable situations.
The agency collaborates with 150 countries to provide access to sexual and reproductive health services. Its goal is ambitious: by 2030, it aims to eliminate unmet needs for family planning, reduce preventable maternal mortality, and eradicate gender-based violence, as well as harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation. However, the recent grant cancellations deal a harsh blow to crucial programs being carried out in countries such as Afghanistan, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Mali, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine.
This latest cut adds to a series of decisions made by the United States since late January, aiming to withdraw funds from humanitarian organizations, leaving millions of people at risk. Over the years, UNFPA has faced funding withdrawals under accusations of supporting coercive abortions, claims that have been refuted by multiple administrations and the agency itself. UNFPA emphasizes that its mandate focuses on ensuring rights and choices for all, and that its operations rely on voluntary donations from governments and organizations.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
