Geneva, UN Headquarters

The United Nations’ women’s agency, UN Women, has revealed a disturbing trend: at least 1 million women worldwide have lost access to humanitarian aid and other critical support due to severe funding cuts over the past 18 months.

This alarming statistic was announced by Sofia Calltorp, the chief of humanitarian action at UN Women, who expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of these cuts on women and girls.

According to UN Women, 84% of women’s organizations surveyed reported increased needs since January 2025, when the Trump administration took office and initiated cutbacks in foreign aid. The organization emphasized that every dollar withdrawn from women’s organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive.

In a recent report, UN Women spoke to 855 women’s organizations working in 52 countries, who shared heartbreaking stories of women and girls being turned away due to funding cuts. The organization has warned that this number of 1 million women and girls is merely the tip of the iceberg, with many more affected by these cuts.

The crisis is further exacerbated by the fact that conflict-related sexual violence has doubled in the past year, according to UN Women. This rise in violence is a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued support and aid for women and girls affected by conflict.

UN Women has called for immediate action to prevent the collapse of organizations that have kept women and girls alive through the world’s worst crises. The organization has also highlighted the need for sustained funding to address the growing needs of women’s organizations.

As the world body undergoes a reform process known as UN80, UN Women is advocating for the merging of its organization with UNFPA, the sexual and reproductive health agency. This merger is seen as a potential solution to address the growing needs of women’s organizations and ensure continued support for women and girls.

Many U.N. organizations have been forced to cut thousands of jobs and reduce aid programs worldwide in response to funding cuts by top donors. The impact of these cuts has been devastating, with women’s organizations struggling to meet the growing needs of women and girls affected by conflict.

The UN Women chief of humanitarian action, Sofia Calltorp, has emphasized that the organizations that have kept women and girls alive through the world’s worst crises risk becoming another casualty of war if immediate action is not taken.

As the world grapples with the consequences of funding cuts, UN Women is urging governments, donors, and international organizations to prioritize the needs of women and girls affected by conflict. The organization is calling for sustained funding and support to address the growing needs of women’s organizations and prevent the collapse of essential services for women and girls.

The crisis facing women’s organizations is a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued support and aid for women and girls affected by conflict. As the world body undergoes a reform process, it is essential that the needs of women’s organizations are prioritized to ensure continued support for women and girls.

The impact of funding cuts on women’s organizations is a complex issue, requiring a comprehensive approach to address the growing needs of women and girls affected by conflict. UN Women is advocating for a sustained commitment to funding and support to ensure that women’s organizations can continue to provide essential services to women and girls.