Despite Funding Cuts, But UNICEF Won't Stop Delivering For Children
Every child has the right to proper nutrition. On Dec. 2, 2024, health volunteers screen children for malnutrition and provide vitamin A and deworming tablets during a UNICEF-supported door-to-door nutrition campaign in Aroma locality, Kassala state, Sudan. After more than two years of brutal armed conflict, children in Sudan are living through the world's largest child displacement crisis. Access to health care, nutrition, safe water, education and protection has been disrupted for millions. UNICEF is staying and delivering for Sudan's children and their families.
In a predawn vote on July 17, 2025, the Senate approved by a narrow margin the rescissions package submitted by the White House, clawing back Fiscal Year 2025 funding for critical humanitarian programs, including $142 million in core resources for UNICEF. The next day, the House followed suit.
The result? A profound setback for millions of children and communities around the world.
Aid cuts put the most vulnerable children at even greater risk and weaken U.S. interests
For nearly 80 years, UNICEF has partnered with the people of the United States to improve outcomes for children everywhere. The U.S. Government has consistently rallied behind UNICEF's mission to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
"The decision to eliminate core U.S. funding for UNICEF is deeply disappointing," says Michael J. Nyenhuis, UNICEF USA President and CEO. "This funding has long enjoyed bipartisan support because it delivers tangible, proven results: protecting children from deadly disease and malnutrition, strengthening health systems and advancing stability in regions critical to global security — outcomes that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous.
"Cutting it puts the most vulnerable children at even greater risk," Nyenhuis continued. "It also weakens the United States' ability to lead with compassion and credibility on the global stage at a time when that leadership is needed most."
Every child has the right to learn and reach their full potential. UNICEF provides education support for children in emergencies and helps build stronger educational systems around the world. Tala, 10, attends a UNICEF temporary learning space in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 24, 2024.
With almost 80 years of experience, UNICEF knows how to allocate resources to achieve the greatest impact for children
UNICEF is the world's largest children's organization, mandated by the United Nations to protect the rights of children and ensure they are healthy, educated, protected and respected. Working from offices in 190 countries and territories, UNICEF staff are mostly local and in program countries. With their deep program expertise and networks, UNICEF's staff are the lifeblood of the impact UNICEF delivers for children.
As a UN agency, UNICEF is uniquely positioned to drive national accountability while building the capacity of local civil society, NGOs and other stakeholders. UNICEF contributes to 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, more than any other organization, and aligns all its development work with those goals through five-year cooperation agreements with national governments called Country Program Documents.
Reversing hard-won progress
The aid cut will have a huge impact on children's lives and their education. It also threatens to reverse hard-won progress achieved by UNICEF and partners. Since 2000, global under-5 mortality has dropped by 50 percent. Millions of children are alive today thanks to UNICEF's time-tested, cost-effective work. Millions more have been protected with improved health and brighter futures.
'We project that cuts will disrupt UNICEF health services for up to 13 million children across West and Central Africa,' Patrick Quirk, UNICEF USA Vice President, Global Policy and Public Affairs, told Politico before the Senate vote. 'An infectious disease outbreak in that area is one flight away from infecting families here in the U.S.'
Every child has the right to health. Children caught in emergencies rely on UNICEF support for vital services including health care. Above, Dr. Florence S. Saint-Surin, head of the Pediatric Department at UNICEF-supported La Paix Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, tends to a young patient on Jan. 28, 2025. La Paix is the city's only functioning public hospital. 'The patients come from everywhere, and we have to take care of them,' said Dr. Saint-Surin. 'Where else will they go?'
UNICEF delivers for children when they need it most
In 2024, in the face of relentless conflict, climate emergencies and natural disasters, an estimated 183.5 million children required humanitarian assistance. And UNICEF teams around the world responded. As children were forcibly displaced; as they were killed or injured or suffered other grave violations of their rights; as they were left malnourished or without health care, their education disrupted — UNICEF delivered:
Myth vs fact
UNICEF's core funding is not used for overhead expenses. It goes directly where it is needed most. Core funding enables UNICEF to respond to emergencies and implement long-term systems change, helping save lives, scale solutions and strengthen national systems.
UNICEF is not funded by the United Nations. It relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, intergovernmental organizations, foundations, the private sector and individuals.
Every child has the right to safety. In Hatay, Türkiye, a sister and brother shelter in an informal camp for families displaced by an earthquake that hit 11 provinces in southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria on Feb. 6, 2023. UNICEF provided immediate lifesaving support following the massive quake
The world's children need our support now more than ever
Despite this enormous setback, UNICEF's work for children does not stop now — especially given this time of unprecedented need. Every dollar invested in humanitarian aid and development creates long-term benefits and a more stable and secure world.
"UNICEF will continue to deliver," said Nyenhuis. "I remain hopeful that champions across the country — and across the political spectrum — will continue to stand with us. Children deserve nothing less."
Now more than ever, we need your voice. #ForEveryChild
Make your unrestricted contribution to UNICEF today.
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