Trump Stops Aid, UN Warns Mother's Death In Afghanistan Will Increase

ILLUSTRATION/Obviously Afghanistan's UNFPA

JAKARTA - UN aid officials said halting American funding would cut off the access of millions of Afghans to sexual and reproductive health services.

The stagnation of aid is said to have caused more than 1,000 maternal deaths in Afghanistan from 2025 to 2028.

US President Donald Trump last month ordered the termination of foreign development assistance for 90 days, pending an assessment of the efficiency and consistency of his foreign policy.

Trump also restored US participation in international anti-abortion pacts, cutting US planning family funds for foreign organizations providing or promoting abortion.

Pio Smith, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), said more than 9 million people in Afghanistan would lose access to services and more than 1.2 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan due to the closure of sexual and reproductive health services.

Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest death rate for pregnant women in the world, with a mother dying from pregnancy complications that can actually be prevented every two hours.

"What happens if our job is not funded? Women give birth alone, in unhealthy condition. Newborns die of preventable causes," she said at a news conference in Geneva.

"They are the most vulnerable people in the world," he said.

"If I take just an example in Afghanistan, between 2025 and 2028 we estimate that the absence of US support will result in an additional 1,200 maternal deaths and an additional 109,000 unwanted pregnancies," added Pio Smith.

In the Asia-Pacific region, UNFPA received around $77 million from the US.

Riva Eskinazi, director of donor relations at the International Planned Parenthood Federation told Reuters they should also stop planning and sexual and reproductive health services in West Africa as a result of the break in aid.

We expect an increase in unwanted pregnancy and maternal mortality. There will be problems in sending contraceptives to our members. This is very sad," he said.