UN agencies are scaling back their international humanitarian programs after the United States suspended aid to other countries.
The British newspaper The Guardian reports this, citing an email sent by the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi. Earlier, the White House announced that President Donald Trump had signed an executive order halting development aid to other countries for 90 days to assess how these programs align with US foreign policy.
In his email, Grandi instructed to immediately limit expenditures, including suspending orders for new supplies, except in emergencies, freezing hiring and contracts, and halting all international air transport. These measures are aimed at helping the agency adjust to the freeze in US funding.
The Guardian notes that, due to Washington’s decision, humanitarian programs have slowed globally, and layoffs have begun. According to the publication, in 2024, the United States allocated about $2.49 billion to the UNHCR, which accounted for a fifth of the agency’s total budget.
