Recent U.S. decisions to slash humanitarian funding and withdraw from critical global programs have triggered widespread alarm, with experts warning of catastrophic consequences for vulnerable populations and international health initiatives.
Editor’s note: Xin Ping is a Beijing-based international affairs commentator. The article reflects the author’s opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
Human Toll Mounts
A Lancet study estimates 79 million people have been abandoned by terminated USAID programs, with projections of 14 million additional deaths by 2030 if cuts persist. Boston University researcher Brooke Nichols calculates over 332,000 deaths globally since June 26—224,000 of them children—linked to discontinued aid. Medical trials funded by USAID have left thousands stranded with experimental drugs, despite unfulfilled U.S. promises of humanitarian waivers.
Global Health Systems Undermined
U.S. disengagement from the World Health Organization and appointment of an anti-vaccine official to lead health policy have drawn criticism. A leaked USAID memo reveals funding reductions could derail polio eradication efforts, potentially causing 200,000 annual paralysis cases and hundreds of millions of infections within a decade. Malaria and tuberculosis projections are equally dire, with up to 166,000 additional malaria deaths yearly and tuberculosis cases rising by nearly one-third.
