Funding cuts to cripple children operations, Unicef says

Millions of children across the globe set to be affected by the announced and anticipated funding cuts from numerous funding countries, Unicef has warned.

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Executive director Catherine Russell said funding cuts, mainly by the United States, come at a time of unprecedented need where children are affected by conflicts and diseases. She said the cuts will create a funding crisis on the ongoing programmes.

Unicef is a major casualty of the US funding cuts because it received 36 per cent of total funding ($1.02 billion) from Usaid. In 2021 the UK government announced a 60 per cent reduction in core funding to Unicef.

“These cuts by numerous donor countries follow two years of aid reductions at a time of unprecedented need. Millions of children are affected by conflict, need to be vaccinated against deadly diseases such as measles and polio, and must be educated and kept healthy,” Unicef boss Catherine Russell said on Wednesday.

She added: “As needs continue to outpace resources, Unicef has consistently brought efficiencies and innovations to our work, and we have stretched every contribution to reach vulnerable children. But there is no way around it, these new cuts are creating a global funding crisis that will put the lives of millions of additional children at risk.”

The Unicef boss reiterated that the operations of the UN agency are entirely funded by voluntary contributions from willing governments, private partners and individuals.

In her press release, she said that the funding to the Unicef has had significant impact as far as child mortality is concerned.

She added: “With our partners, we have made historic progress. Since 2000, global under-5 mortality has dropped by 50 per cent. Millions of children are alive today thanks to this work. Millions more have been protected with improved health and brighter futures.”

She has called on the donors to continue funding critical programs to protect children from imminent dangers.

“Unicef implores all donors to continue to fund critical aid programs for the world’s children. We cannot fail them now,” Russel said.