GENEVA — The World Health Organization is warning that mounting shortfalls in funding—driven by deep U.S. aid cuts and Washington’s potential withdrawal from the UN agency—are jeopardizing critical health interventions worldwide.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director, sounded the alarm during a briefing on Sunday, highlighting the escalating disruptions to lifesaving health programs in crisis regions. “We are facing the halt of several emergency response mechanisms, including trauma care deployment, health worker training, and post-conflict health system rehabilitation,” she said.
The concerns follow the United States’ suspension of foreign aid commitments and its continued absence from WHO’s 2024 donor roster. The organization is now grappling with a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall and has already begun scaling down its operations. Internal documents suggest a 20% reduction in workforce and field presence is underway.
Health experts say the consequences will be swift and severe for vulnerable populations in conflict zones and disaster-hit nations. Balkhy emphasized, “Without predictable funding, we are at risk of losing entire healthcare frameworks in regions that depend on WHO support just to keep basic medical services running.”
The Biden administration has not yet confirmed its intentions for WHO dues in 2025, further fueling uncertainty. Meanwhile, aid groups and global health officials warn that this vacuum in leadership and resources may trigger a domino effect—shrinking the world’s capacity to respond to emergencies, outbreaks, and long-term recovery efforts.
As humanitarian conditions deteriorate across Gaza, Sudan, and Afghanistan, WHO’s ability to intervene continues to shrink. “Every dollar withheld isn’t just a budget line,” Balkhy added. “It’s an ambulance that won’t arrive, a surgery that won’t happen, a life that might not be saved.”
