A Year of Harms: The Impact of US Foreign Aid Cuts on Women and Girls in Humanitarian Crises
A humanitarian crisis-- where life has been upset by natural disaster, conflict, or forced displacement-- can disproportionately impact women and girls. Women and girls, at disproportionate risk for gender-based violence, maternal health complications, and barriers to accessing aid, have different requirements in these settings. Julianne Deitch, Associate Director of Research at the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), looks back with us on this last year’s foreign aid cuts and talks to us about the substantial impacts on women and girls in crisis.
Before 2025, the U.S. was one of the largest donors to humanitarian aid globally, with aid hovering at 13 billion dollars annually to address immediate needs for population in crises. Still, humanitarian aid made up less than 0.1% of the gross national income. In January 2025, the Trump administration froze all U.S. foreign aid and dismantled U.S. foreign assistance infrastructure (including closing USAID). Over the last year, WRC collected concrete evidence from over 32 countries. They found that women and girls in humanitarian crises: 1) have lost access to necessary health care (maternal health, sexual and reproductive health care, antiviral drugs, and more); 2) are less safe from gender-based violence; and 3) have lost access to women-led, targeted, trusted, local support. Increased funding, advancing the life-saving principle of gender-specific humanitarian aid, supporting local, women-led organizations, and holding governments accountable are all recommendations for addressing this reality.
LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
Women’s Refugee Commission on Instagram
Women’s Refugee Commission on Facebook
A Year of Harms: The Impact of US Foreign Aid Cuts on Women and Girls in Humanitarian Crises
A Year of Harms: The Global Impact of Humanitarian Funding Cuts on Women and Girls [webinar]
The Global Gag Rule is Once Again Expanded, Maximizing Harm
A Cut Too Deep: US Foreign Aid Withdrawals and the Collapse of Protection for Women and Girls in Honduras
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Transcript
Jennie: Welcome to rePROs Fight Back, a podcast on all things related to sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. [music intro]
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Follow the Women’s Refugee Commission on Instagram and Facebook.
Stay informed, pay attention. Remember the real lives at the center of these policy decisions. Find the Women’s Refugee Commission report, A Year of Harms: The Impact of US Foreign Aid Cuts on Women and Girls in Humanitarian Crises, here.
To learn more about the expansion of the already-expanded global gag rule, find the most recent rePROs Fight Back episode here.
Contact your elected representatives and tell them that humanitarian funding, including for sexual and reproductive health, is a critical part of the U.S. budget and should be supported. You can reach the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.