DZWatch Exclusive: A new international study projects that cuts in foreign aid by the United States and European nations could lead to over 22 million preventable deaths by 2030, a significant number of whom will be children.
The research indicates that these reductions in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, compounded by existing cuts, will have a devastating impact on global health initiatives.
“This is the first time in 30 years that France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States are simultaneously reducing their aid,” stated Gonzalo Fanjul, one of the study’s authors from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). “European countries are not comparable to the United States, but when viewed collectively, the blow to the global aid system is enormous… It’s unprecedented.”
The study, conducted by researchers from Spain, Brazil, and Mozambique, analyzed historical data demonstrating the positive impact of aid in reducing mortality rates, particularly through programs focused on preventing HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
The projections estimate an additional 22.6 million deaths by 2030, including 5.4 million children under the age of five, compared to a scenario where aid levels remain constant. Even a more moderate reduction in foreign assistance is predicted to result in an additional 9.4 million deaths, according to the research.
Fanjul emphasized the importance of countries becoming less reliant on international aid in the long term, especially for funding HIV prevention efforts. However, he cautioned that “the problem lies in the speed and severity of this process.” The sudden and drastic cuts are what make the situation so dire.
The study highlights the urgent need for a reevaluation of foreign aid policies to mitigate the potentially catastrophic consequences of these funding reductions. The impact on vulnerable populations could be devastating.
