US Commits $2 Billion to Humanitarian Aid, Issues Stark Warning to UN

Mon Dec 29 2025 23:47:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move, the United States has pledged $2 billion for UN humanitarian programs while urging the organization to adapt to new challenges or face dire consequences.

The US government, represented by Under Secretary Jeremy Lewin, has allocated $2 billion for UN humanitarian efforts amid substantial cuts in humanitarian funding globally. This funding comes with stringent conditions, notably excluding countries like Afghanistan and Yemen, which may affect aid effectiveness in crisis-hit regions.

The United States has pledged $2 billion (£1.5bn) to fund United Nations (UN) humanitarian programmes, but has warned the UN it must adapt or die.

The announcement was made in Geneva by Jeremy Lewin, President Trump's Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, and the UN's emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher.

This comes amid huge cuts in US funding for humanitarian operations, with further reductions expected from other major donors like the UK and Germany.

Mr. Fletcher welcomed the new funds, stating they would save millions of lives; however, $2 billion is a mere fraction of what the US traditionally allocates towards humanitarian aid. In 2022, its contribution to the UN's humanitarian work was estimated at $17 billion (£12.6bn).

The funding, however, comes with specific conditions. Although UN donors sometimes earmark funds for specific projects, this US funding will only prioritize 17 countries, including Haiti, Syria, and Sudan.

Notably, Afghanistan and Yemen will not receive any funds. Mr. Lewin mentioned that evidence suggested UN funds were being diverted to the Taliban in Afghanistan, emphasizing that President Trump will never tolerate a penny of taxpayers' money going to terrorist groups.

This situation poses challenges for aid agencies operating in excluded countries. The ongoing funding cuts have already resulted in the closure of mother and baby clinics in Afghanistan and reduced food rations for displaced people in Sudan. Furthermore, the global child mortality rate, which has been on the decline, is expected to rise this year.

The stipulations attached to the US funding also rule out financing projects related to climate change, with Mr. Lewin arguing these initiatives are not considered life saving and not in the US interest.

Mr. Lewin, known for his loyalty to Trump, has been linked to the USAID shutdown and the dismissal of thousands of its staff. He cautioned the UN to adapt or die, asserting that the US piggy bank is not open to those organizations that just want to return to the old system.

The US administration insists that funding must be targeted and efficient, avoiding overlapping aid projects. Tom Fletcher has expressed that the UN system wholeheartedly supports these qualities, emphasizing the importance of prevent misallocation of funds, particularly in the face of crises affecting 200 million people worldwide.

Despite the UN's welcome of the US commitment, significant concerns arise regarding the potential politicization of humanitarian aid. The core principles of such aid mandate that it remains neutral, impartial, and directed towards those in greatest need. Excluding specific countries and projects like climate change challenges these fundamental tenets.

Nonetheless, given the hardships posed by a lingering funding crisis and skepticism from Washington, many within the UN will likely recognize that $2 billion is better than nothing.