Funding Cuts Put 13 Million Displaced People’s Health at Risk: United Nations

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Friday that funding cuts have placed the health of nearly 13 million displaced people at serious risk. The agency emphasized the urgent need for financial support to sustain life-saving healthcare services for refugees worldwide.

Humanitarian organizations across the globe have been severely impacted since January when U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office, advancing policies that limit support for refugees and migrants. His administration also froze most American foreign aid funds, further straining international relief efforts.

The United States has traditionally been the largest donor to UNHCR, contributing more than 40% of the agency’s total funding. The sudden withdrawal of these funds has led to an escalating crisis in refugee healthcare services.

Ellen Manya, UNHCR’s Head of Public Health, stated, “By 2025, due to a lack of adequate resources, an estimated 12.8 million displaced individuals, including 6.3 million children, could be deprived of life-saving medical interventions.”

“The ongoing humanitarian funding crisis, driven by a decline in health expenditures from donor countries, is already affecting the scope and quality of public health and nutrition programs for refugees and host communities. This has resulted in reduced access to essential services and increased risks of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, untreated chronic conditions, and mental health issues,” she added.

Citing specific cases, Manya pointed out that nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are facing severe health crises due to funding shortages, significantly limiting their access to medical care.

Similarly, in Burundi, several nutrition programs in refugee camps have been suspended, leaving thousands of children under five without adequate treatment for malnutrition.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNHCR’s health budget for 2025 has been slashed by 87% compared to 2024. “The health consequences of these cuts in Congo are expected to be devastating, placing over 520,000 refugees at high risk of infectious diseases and mortality,” Manya warned.

Additionally, in Egypt, UNHCR has halted all medical treatment for refugees except for emergency life-saving procedures. A UNHCR health survey estimated that 12.8 million displaced individuals would ultimately be left without essential healthcare services. UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler also noted that other traditional top donors have been reducing their contributions, exacerbating the crisis.