A child under five could die every forty seconds by 2030 due to U.S. aid cuts, Oxfam analysis finds

The series of cruel and illegal cuts to U.S. lifesaving humanitarian and development aid the Trump administration initiated on day one has already cost lives and undermined the entire global aid system. Oxfam analysis of aid cut impact predictions finds that these actions have led to the risk that a child under 5 could die every 40 seconds by 2030. Already, conservative estimates projected that 200,000 children under five would die in 2025 due to these cuts, leading to the first rise in under-five child mortality this century.

Ayman Fuad/Oxfam

Ali, a father of two from Yemen whose children are suffering from malnutrition.

President Trump’s freeze on aid and subsequent closure of USAID left millions of people living through crisis without lifesaving food, water, healthcare and other basic support. Chaotic and cruel bureaucratic processes and additional rollbacks came in the months to follow, and billions of dollars already approved by Congress were slashed from the U.S. humanitarian assistance budget, leaving vital programmes in limbo or forced to close.

And while the Trump administration's recent pledge of $2 billion to the UN for humanitarian assistance is welcome, it addresses a mere fraction of its previous cuts, and it is unclear if more funding will follow.

“

“We have run out of words to describe the depths of suffering we have witnessed after President Trump took a sledgehammer to U.S. humanitarian assistance and the entire global aid system. We are seeing years of progress unravel, and more children suffer and die preventable deaths because of these cuts.””

Abby Maxman, President and CEO of Oxfam America

Instability and humanitarian challenges are rapidly growing as the global system was already overstretched and is now pushed beyond its limit. Many organisations operating as a lifeline to people in need were forced to shut their operations overnight and no longer have the resources to carry out programmes necessary for children and families to survive.

“

"Amidst a devastating civil war and thousands of refugees in dire need after fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan, South Sudan is receiving the lowest amount of humanitarian aid since the country was established. Water-borne illnesses are spreading rapidly, starvation is imminent for many, and while needs are rising, lifesaving organisations are working with a fraction of the resources we had in previous years. Oxfam, along with many other vital organisations, will be forced to scale down its programmes without immediate intervention."”

Shabnam Baloch, Country Director for Oxfam in South Sudan

Peter Caton/Oxfam

Refugee Asia* washing her hand at an Oxfam supported WASH facility at their shelter at the transit center in Renk

“

"CDP works with local communities to prepare for disasters and develop evacuation and mitigation plans, but because of aid cuts, we had to cancel programmes across 8 communities impacting over 2,000 families. Disasters due to natural hazards are coming at us faster and faster, and people could die if not supported by local organisations.””

Mayfourth Luneta, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation (CDP), and an Oxfam partner in the Philippines

Samira (name changed), 15, displaced from Aleppo by the earthquake, makes a meal of boiled potatoes and bread. Image: Dania Kareh/Oxfam

A girl wearing jogging bottoms and a jumper and hijab cooks over a stove on the ground.

“

“After the suspension of U.S. humanitarian assistance funds last January, GOPA-DERD had to drastically reduce the scale and scope of our programmes for Syrian families and Iraqi refugees residing in Syria. We were notified we will no longer receive funding from the U.S. government, and thousands of people are left without crucial services necessary to rebuild their lives after a catastrophic civil war.””

Sara Savva, Deputy Director-General for GOPA-DERD, the humanitarian arm of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and Oxfam partner in Syria

Press contact

For comments, interviews, or information please contact the Oxfam GB Media Team: