Donald Trump's Aid Freeze Could Cause Millions of Deaths Due to AIDS: UN

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Former U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend overseas aid funding could lead to millions of additional deaths from AIDS, the head of the United Nations' AIDS programme warned on Sunday. The aid freeze, which includes a 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign assistance, has left global health organizations scrambling to manage the fallout.

The United States is the largest provider of international development assistance, primarily through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump's order to halt the majority of U.S. foreign aid upon returning to office in January has triggered concerns among global health experts.

"It’s dramatic in many countries," said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, speaking to AFP. "I need to sound the alarm. If this funding disappears, people are going to die."

'Tenfold' Increase in Deaths Expected

The U.S. aid freeze includes a temporary suspension of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that supports over 20 million HIV patients and funds 270,000 healthcare workers worldwide, according to an analysis by the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

Byanyima warned that the cut could result in a tenfold increase in AIDS-related deaths, with projections indicating 6.3 million additional deaths over the next five years. UNAIDS also estimates that new HIV infections could rise by 8.7 million during the same period if the funding is not restored.

The U.S. has assured that “life-saving treatments” would be exempt from the freeze. However, frontline health workers across Africa report that some clinics have already shut down due to a lack of operational funding.

African Nations Struggle to Fill Funding Gap

Speaking at the African Union Summit in Ethiopia, Byanyima urged leaders to shift away from dependency on foreign aid and instead fund HIV/AIDS programs through domestic resources. However, she highlighted the severe debt crisis many African nations face, with some governments spending over 50% of their revenue on debt repayments, leaving little for health and education.

"Part of the answer is pushing for immediate and comprehensive debt restructuring," Byanyima stated. "For many nations, debt is crowding out essential health investments."

Global Health Community Calls for Reversal

Founded in 1961, USAID operates with an annual budget exceeding $40 billion, funding development, health, and humanitarian programs worldwide. The Trump administration’s aid suspension has drawn criticism from international health experts, who warn that without immediate intervention, decades of progress in the fight against AIDS could be undone.