US cuts to international aid harm people caught in conflict and crisis around the world

While MSF welcomes Congress’ decision to prevent additional cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and emergency food assistance, this rescissions package will deepen the growing global health and humanitarian emergency created by the US foreign assistance cuts which took place earlier this year. MSF has already begun to witness the life-threatening consequences of these cuts, including closed clinics, disruptions of key vaccination campaigns, missing sexual and reproductive health tools, and shortages of clean drinking water. 

Foreign assistance typically represents approximately only 1 percent of the US’ federal budget but saves countless lives around the world.

MSF does not accept US government funding and is therefore not directly affected by US aid cuts. However, MSF can’t do it alone. We rely on networks of local and international organizations that also provide medical assistance as well as those that provide assistance for non-medical needs such as food security, shelter, and protection. For example, when food aid is cut, MSF’s clinics are filled with malnourished children. When shelter programs are cut, MSF does not have anywhere to refer vulnerable patients after they’re discharged from the hospital.

“While further damage to PEPFAR and Food For Peace has fortunately been spared for now, Congress’ rescission of about $8 billion in health and humanitarian aid funding reinforces the ongoing withdrawal of US leadership in global health and humanitarian assistance—an area that has historically received bipartisan support—and will further harm some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. 

“The revocation of nearly $500 million for family planning and reproductive health services is particularly devastating, given that the US government previously provided more than 40 percent of global support in this area. This decision crystallizes the significant service gaps that have emerged in the wake of the US' abrupt withdrawal of funding for these critical programs in January.

“We’re already seeing the life-threatening impacts of these decisions, not just around family planning and reproductive health, but across the board.

“Humanitarian and medical groups have been left scrambling to carry out lifesaving services without money, staff, or certainty about what comes next. Doctors don’t know what to tell their patients when they ask where they'll be able to continue their HIV or tuberculosis care. Community leaders can’t assure their neighbors that there will be organizations around to vaccinate kids against deadly diseases. The rescissions package will only make this situation worse for those most in need.   

“We cannot and should not accept this dangerous new normal.

“MSF remains committed to providing health and humanitarian aid across the world, but we can’t do it all alone. In the next US budget, lawmakers must support critical global health and humanitarian aid to prevent this growing global health and humanitarian emergency from turning even more catastrophic.”