Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Monday that USAID has been a critical partner for the UN in humanitarian and development work. He emphasized that the sudden closure of USAID would disrupt vital aid programmes and put millions of vulnerable people at risk.
"USAID is a critical partner, and the US has been extremely generous in supporting our humanitarian efforts across the globe," said Dujarric. "This decision will have an immediate impact on lifesaving activities."
The warning came after Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and adviser to US President Donald Trump, announced that Trump had agreed to shut down USAID, which has been America’s main foreign assistance agency.
According to Dujarric, the US contributed 47% of the global humanitarian appeal, amounting to approximately $14 billion. USAID’s Inspector General’s report revealed that $25 billion was allocated to the UN and its agencies from 2019 to 2024.
The biggest beneficiary of USAID funding was the World Food Programme (WFP), receiving $16.8 billion, followed by the UNICEF, which received $2.7 billion.
Trump, known for his skepticism towards multilateral cooperation, has also announced US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), which had an $868 million allocation from USAID.
The UN is now in discussions with various humanitarian agencies to assess the impact and seek alternative funding solutions.
