Kathmandu: A recent study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet has warned that cuts in US humanitarian aid could lead to 14 million deaths globally by 2030. This figure is nearly half of Nepal’s total population.
The study, released on Monday, highlights that one-third of those at risk of dying due to the funding cuts are children.
According to the report, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced in March that the Trump administration had canceled more than 80 percent of programs run by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“For many low- and middle-income countries, this sudden reduction in aid could be as devastating as a global pandemic or a major armed conflict,” said David Rossella, co-author of the Lancet report.
By analyzing data from 133 countries, the research team estimated that USAID funding between 2001 and 2021 helped prevent more than 90 million deaths in developing nations.
USAID has been a crucial provider of financial and development assistance to over 100 countries worldwide, with funding allocated directly from the US federal budget.
In 2024, the US government allocated $44.2 billion for USAID, representing just 0.4 percent of the total US federal budget for that year.
The study serves as a stark reminder of the potentially catastrophic consequences of foreign aid reductions on global health and development, especially in vulnerable and low-income nations.
