By Matik Kueth
A new study published in The Lancet on Tuesday has revealed that the U.S. government’s plan to reduce humanitarian aid drastically could have catastrophic global consequences.
According to researchers, the proposed 83 percent cut in U.S. international aid, announced by President Donald Trump’s administration in early 2025, could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030.
Alarmingly, over 4.5 million of those could be children under the age of five, equivalent to about 700,000 additional child deaths each year.
Using data from 133 low- and middle-income countries, the international research team highlighted the life-saving impact of U.S. aid over the past two decades.
Between 2001 and 2021, programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) helped prevent around 91 million deaths.
These initiatives were associated with a 15 percent overall reduction in mortality and a 32 percent drop in deaths among children under five.
The most significant progress was seen in the fight against preventable diseases. Countries that received substantial U.S. aid saw HIV/AIDS deaths fall by 74 percent, malaria fatalities decrease by 53 percent, and deaths from neglected tropical diseases drop by 51 percent, compared to countries that received little or no aid.
Researchers warn that slashing this support now would erase decades of progress and leave millions vulnerable to preventable illness and death.