International food and refugee aid organizations prepare significant budget reductions amidst a precipitous decline in financial support.
An Unsettling Scenario Unfolds:
** geneva ** – Struggling to keep the lights on, UN humanitarian agencies are considering drastic measures due to overwhelming financial shortages. The World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are looking at slashing their workforces by as much as 30%, potentially affecting 6,000 jobs.
The humanitarian world has been reeling from tightened purse strings as major donors, including the United States under President Donald Trump, have opted to prioritize defense spending over international aid. Other Western countries have followed suit, contributing less to these critical UN agencies.
Stephen Omollo, WFP director, explained in an internal memo to staff that the cuts are an unavoidable response to the "unprecedented funding environment." According to the memo, the 2025 donor outlook for the WFP is a staggering $6.4 billion, a 40% decrease compared to the previous year, without naming the culprits.
Omollo expressed concerns that the grim state of affairs shows no sign of improvement, and the proposed cuts might not be enough. To make ends meet, further cost-cutting measures are being considered.
Similarly, UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi proposed an overall reduction in costs of 30%. Senior positions are expected to be halved, and some country offices will be closed, with other regions covered through more robust multi-country office structures. A representative from the WFP did not respond to request for comment at the time of this writing.
The humanitarian sector has been grappling with funding uncertainty from its donors. Spokesperson William Spindler of the UNHCR stated, "Many humanitarian organizations, ourselves included, have had to curtail our work in the field as a result."
Filling the Void: Facts and Figures
- The funding crunch is largely due to the prioritization of defense spending by major Western donors, including the United States. Decreased international funding contributions stem from donor countries focusing on domestic expenditures. The broader economic climate might also impact donor countries' decisions to reduce humanitarian aid.*
The Bleak Reality: Implications of the Cuts
- Thousands of jobs in the WFP could be lost, impacting the agency's ability to deliver essential aid programs worldwide. Reduced funding will force the WFP to eliminate programs in critical regions, potentially leaving millions without access to vital resources. The health budget of UNHCR has been slashed by 87%, putting the health of nearly 13 million displaced people at risk.*
- Reduced funding for water supply, sanitation, and waste management enhances the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, jeopardizing the health of displaced populations. Mental health services and psychosocial support may be compromised, heightening the psychological strain on refugees and vulnerable communities worldwide. In places like Bangladesh, essential medical services for Rohingya refugees could be threatened, with severe consequences for refugee health systems.*
The funding shortfall not only challenges the operational capacity of UN humanitarian agencies but also jeopardizes the lives and well-being of millions of refugees and vulnerable communities worldwide.
- The World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are contemplating workforce reductions of up to 30% due to finance shortages, potentially affecting 6,000 jobs.
- The humanitarian sector, including WFP and UNHCR, is facing funding shortages as major donors, such as the United States, prioritize defense spending over international aid, leading to a $6.4 billion funding deficit in 2025.
- To balance the budget, the WFP is considering further cost-cutting measures, while the UNHCR is planning to halve senior positions and close some country offices.
- The reduced funding for WFP could lead to the elimination of essential aid programs in critical regions, potentially leaving millions without access to vital resources.
- The health budget of UNHCR has been slashed by 87%, putting the health of nearly 13 million displaced people at risk, and the diminished funding for water supply, sanitation, and waste management in refugee camps enhances the risk of infectious disease outbreaks.
