UN reports 1 million women lost aid due to funding cuts
8 reported
The U.N. women’s agency reported Friday that at least 1 million women have lost access to humanitarian aid and other critical support as a result of budget cuts over the last 18 months. UN Women stated that 84% of women’s organizations surveyed reported increased needs since January 2025, when the Trump administration in the United States took office and began cutbacks in foreign aid. Nearly 90% of the women’s groups surveyed said they cannot meet current levels of need, and one in five expect to shut down temporarily or permanently within the next year. Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s chief of humanitarian action, told reporters in Geneva that the agency spoke to 855 women’s organizations in 52 countries, and that the figure of 1 million women and girls is “just the tip of the iceberg.” UN Women noted that conflict-related sexual violence had doubled last year, and cited an OECD report finding that development assistance fell by nearly a quarter last year to $174 billion, the largest yearly contraction on record. Many U.N. organizations have cut thousands of jobs and reduced aid programs over the last 18 months following funding cuts by the United States and other top donors. The world body, as part of a reform process known as UN80, has been considering merging UN Women with UNFPA, the sexual and reproductive health agency.
What’s reported
At least 1 million women have lost access to humanitarian aid and critical support due to budget cuts over the last 18 months, according to UN Women.
84% of women’s organizations surveyed reported increased needs since January 2025, when the Trump administration took office and began foreign aid cutbacks.
Nearly 90% of women’s groups surveyed said they cannot meet current levels of need; one in five expect to shut down within the next year.
UN Women spoke to 855 women’s organizations in 52 countries.
Conflict-related sexual violence doubled last year, UN Women said.
OECD reported development assistance fell by nearly a quarter last year to $174 billion, the largest yearly contraction on record.
Many U.N. organizations have cut thousands of jobs and reduced aid programs over the last 18 months.
The UN80 reform process has considered merging UN Women with UNFPA.
Key figures
Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s chief of humanitarian action
UN Women (U.N. agency focusing on women)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Trump administration (United States government)
Sources: abcnews.com
