US Cuts Humanitarian Aid; Afghanistan and Yemen Excluded

DID Press: US significantly reduced its funding for United Nations humanitarian programs, slashing the budget to $2 billion and excluding Afghanistan and Yemen from the list of aid recipients due to “interference by ruling groups.”

Under the new allocation policy, the US will provide limited, targeted support to select countries and programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the government aims to share the financial burden of humanitarian aid with other developed nations, describing the $2 billion allocation as a “significant contribution” despite the substantial reduction.

Afghanistan and Yemen, both facing severe humanitarian crises, have been removed from the aid list. US officials cited the Taliban’s involvement in aid distribution in Afghanistan and the Houthis’ interference in Yemen as the reasons for this decision.

This $2 billion package represents the first phase of US contributions to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The cut reduces America’s commitment from approximately $17 billion to $2 billion, a move UN officials describe as “challenging.”

The UN said it will seek support from other governments and international organizations to fill the gap for countries removed from the aid list, warning that reduced resources may have serious consequences for vulnerable populations in crisis regions.