US pledges $2bn for humanitarian aid, but tells UN 'adapt or die'

December 29, 2025

The United States has announced $2 billion in funding for UN humanitarian programs, representing a dramatic decrease from its traditional $17 billion contribution in 2022, while demanding major reforms with the message that the organization must "adapt or die. " The aid comes with significant restrictions, excluding countries like Afghanistan and Yemen while limiting support to only 17 designated nations and prohibiting climate-related projects. Trump administration official Jeremy Lewin justified the restrictions by claiming UN funds in Afghanistan were being diverted to the Taliban and emphasizing that assistance must serve American interests.

Who is affected

People in 17 designated countries (including Haiti, Syria, and Sudan) who will receive the restricted funding
Populations in Afghanistan and Yemen who are excluded from receiving any of this US funding
Mothers and babies in Afghanistan whose clinics have closed due to funding cuts
Displaced people in Sudan experiencing reduced food rations
An estimated 200 million people globally caught up in humanitarian crises
USAID staff (thousands who were reportedly fired)
Aid agencies and UN humanitarian workers operating in excluded countries
Children globally, whose mortality rates are projected to rise this year

What action is being taken

The United States is providing $2 billion to UN humanitarian programs
Aid agencies are closing mother and baby clinics in Afghanistan
Organizations are reducing food rations for displaced people in Sudan
The UN is welcoming and accepting the new US funding despite its conditions

Why it matters

This funding represents a massive 88% reduction from the US's 2022 contribution of $17 billion, signaling a fundamental shift in American humanitarian policy that will have life-or-death consequences for millions of people in crisis zones. The attached political conditions—excluding entire countries and crisis types like climate change—challenge the foundational humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and needs-based assistance. With other major donors like the UK and Germany also cutting aid, and child mortality rates reversing their historical decline, the global humanitarian system faces an unprecedented crisis that threatens the survival and wellbeing of approximately 200 million people caught in emergencies worldwide.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC