Member States had paid just $1.8 billion in the direction of the UN’s $3.7 billion regular budget for 2025, as of 9 Might. Together with unpaid contributions from earlier years, total unpaid assessments stand at roughly $2.4 billion as of 30 April.
America is the biggest debtor at about $1.5 billion, because the Trump Administration is withholding funds to chop what it sees as pointless spending.
Different main contributors with unpaid dues embody China ($597 million), Russia ($72 million), Saudi Arabia ($42 million), Mexico ($38 million) and Venezuela ($38 million). A further $137 million is but to be paid by different Member States.
The UN’s separate peacekeeping price range faces an analogous disaster, with $2.7 billion in unpaid assessments as of 30 April.
Amidst the fiscal challenges, Secretary-General António Guterres in March launched the UN80 initiative to enhance effectivity, streamline operations and scale back prices – together with a doable 20 per cent workers lower by means of eliminating duplication.
Girls, well being, refugee assist in danger
The state of affairs is equally regarding at UN businesses and programmes, which have their very own budgets and funding channels.
The UN sexual and reproductive well being company, UNFPA, as an example has warned that women and girls in crisis zones – such because the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Sudan and Afghanistan – are already affected by shrinking assist.
Cuts have slashed the flexibility to rent midwives, provide important medicines, deploy well being groups, and supply secure areas for survivors of sexual violence.
In Mozambique, practically 750,000 displaced individuals and refugees are in pressing want of safety, however the UN refugee company (UNHCR) warns it may have to suspend essential services, together with healthcare, schooling, and assist for survivors of gender-based violence, with solely one-third of its funding enchantment met.
HIV/AIDS packages are additionally in danger. In Tajikistan, UNAIDS Nation Director Aziza Hamidova reviews that 60 per cent of HIV programme support is in jeopardy. Neighborhood well being facilities have already closed, outreach has been lower, and entry to PrEP testing and counseling has dropped sharply.
Dwindling funds for disaster response
The Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – which leads UN’s response to disaster – is elevating alarms over the cascading influence of funding gaps.
In Sudan, solely 13 per cent of the $4.2 billion needed for 2025 has been obtained, forcing 250,000 youngsters out of college. Within the DRC, gender-based violence instances have surged 38 per cent, however programmes are shutting down. In Haiti, cholera response efforts risk collapse. In the meantime, simply 25 per cent of Ukraine’s 2025 humanitarian enchantment has been funded, jeopardizing crucial providers.
UN Emergency Aid Coordinator and head of OCHA, Tom Fletcher, has already announced staff cuts and scaling again of some nation programmes.
