United Nations (TDI): The United Nations has issued a stark warning that more than 4 million people could die from AIDS-related illnesses by 2029 if the funding gap created by a recent US aid withdrawal isn’t filled.
For two decades, American-led programs have formed the backbone of the global HIV response. But the abrupt freeze in US support earlier this year has triggered what UN officials described as a “systemic shock” to health systems across many vulnerable countries.
In a report released Thursday, UNAIDS outlined the far-reaching effects of the funding cut. Clinics have closed, health workers have been let go, HIV prevention efforts have stalled, and essential supply chains are now severely disrupted.
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The organization warned that if the $4 billion in US commitments for 2025 isn’t restored or replaced, the world could face up to 6 million new HIV infections and a reversal of decades of progress.
At the center of the crisis is PEPFAR, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, launched in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush. The program is widely credited with saving millions of lives, particularly in Africa. It supported testing for over 84 million people and provided treatment for more than 20 million, according to UNAIDS.
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But in January, President Donald Trump ordered a sweeping halt to foreign aid, shuttering the US AID agency and effectively ending funding for the global HIV response overnight.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
