Save the Children Forced to Suspend Lifesaving Programs for Malnourished Children Due to Aid Cuts
Recent cuts in foreign aid have had devastating consequences for Save the Children, forcing the organization to suspend lifesaving programs for malnourished children. With an estimated 131 million children living in areas experiencing acute food crises globally, the impact of these aid cuts is particularly severe in regions like northern Afghanistan.
In a remote corner of northern Afghanistan, health workers are facing a race against time to care for malnourished children as foreign aid cuts threaten to halt their efforts within the next 30 days. Dr. Hanif and his team at a Save the Children-supported clinic have been the only lifeline for the community for over three years, providing essential care to 2,500 patients each month. However, with limited emergency funding keeping the clinic open, the future looks uncertain for hundreds of malnourished children who rely on this vital care.
The loss of funding has already led to the closure of 18 health facilities supported by Save the Children in Afghanistan, with only 14 clinics having enough funding to remain open for one more month. Without new financial support, these clinics, which support over 134,000 children, will be forced to close their doors.
The impact of aid cuts is not limited to Afghanistan, with governments across the world slashing foreign aid budgets, affecting countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Save the Children has been forced to close hundreds of health facilities and nutrition centers that provide lifesaving care for children, further exacerbating the global food crisis.
Gabriella Waaijman, Chief Operating Officer at Save the Children International, emphasized the urgent need for support, stating, “With more children in need of aid than ever before, cutting off lifesaving support now is like trying to extinguish a wildfire with a hose that’s running out of water.”
Children like Sahar, born in Gaza amid war, are at extreme risk of starvation and malnutrition due to skyrocketing food prices and limited access to aid. Sahar’s mother, Zainab, struggled to provide for her daughter, relying on Save the Children for support. However, aid cuts in Gaza mean reducing treatment and services for malnourished children, putting vulnerable lives at risk.
The global hunger crisis is exacerbated by economic instability, conflict, and climate shocks, with children suffering from malnutrition being 11 times more likely to die from common childhood illnesses and diseases. In Somalia, aid cuts are compounding an already dire situation, with Save the Children forced to close numerous health and nutrition sites, leaving over 250,000 people without vital support.
Save the Children is calling on world leaders and partners to invest in children’s futures, emphasizing the need to reform the aid sector to deliver effectively for children. Investing in children today creates a safer, brighter, and more stable world for all, and any reform processes must prioritize the values underpinning foreign aid.
As the global community grapples with the impact of aid cuts on vulnerable children, it is essential to prioritize their well-being and ensure that lifesaving programs continue to receive the support they need to thrive.
