UN officials have expressed concern over the potential increase in maternal deaths following the suspension of US foreign aid. This pause in funding is anticipated to impact millions of women and girls, primarily in South Asia. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), responsible for promoting sexual and reproductive health worldwide, has had to initiate the suspension of numerous services funded by US aid in the region.
The situation in Afghanistan is particularly dire. Pio Smith, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, highlighted that the potential withdrawal of support could lead to the closure of approximately 600 health and counseling centers (UNFPA News). As projections suggest, this could result in an estimated additional 1,200 maternal deaths between 2025 and 2028, alongside 109,000 unintended pregnancies, should the funding for these critical services not be reinstated.
Beyond Afghanistan, the cessation of aid is poised to detrimentally affect surrounding nations. In Pakistan, the UNFPA estimates that 1.7 million individuals, including 1.2 million Afghan refugees, could lose access to essential sexual and reproductive health services. Similarly, nearly 600,000 people in Bangladesh may be stripped of their access to such services unless additional funding is secured.
To maintain these fundamental health services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, UNFPA has indicated it requires over $308 million. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), added context to the financial picture by noting that the US accounted for approximately 47 percent of the world’s humanitarian appeal last year (UN News).
The recent policy changes, including the US’s pause on nearly all foreign aid programs pending a 90-day review period, exacerbate the situation. Additionally, President Trump’s executive order for the US’s withdrawal from both the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Relief and Works Agency might further challenge international humanitarian efforts (JURIST).
UNFPA persists in its commitment to prevent maternal deaths, combat gender-based violence, and ensure family planning access, which are considered as fundamental human rights under various international legal frameworks, including CEDAW and ICESCR (CEDAW), (ICESCR).