One Million Women and Girls Lose Critical Support as Aid Cuts Threaten Humanitarian Organizations
As armed conflicts escalate to their highest levels in 80 years, humanitarian organizations providing essential services to women and girls are facing severe financial constraints. A recent report from UN Women reveals that since January 2025, at least one million women and girls have lost access to critical support. This alarming finding is based on responses from 855 women-led and women’s rights organizations operating in 52 countries affected by crisis and conflict.
Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies
Sofia Calltorp, Chief of Humanitarian Action at UN Women, emphasized the precarious position of women’s organizations, stating that they are often the first responders in the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. In regions like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti, these organizations operate in areas where international actors are unable to reach and continue their work long after global attention has shifted. Calltorp noted that every dollar withdrawn from these organizations directly impacts survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, and girls forced out of school.
The report highlights that the demand for humanitarian assistance is at historic levels, with approximately 120 million women and girls requiring urgent help and protection globally. Alarmingly, 84% of the surveyed organizations reported an increase in demand for their services since January 2025. Nearly 90% of these organizations indicated they can no longer meet the current levels of need, and two in five anticipate shutting down, either temporarily or permanently, within the next year.
Strain on Resources and Personnel
To sustain their life-saving services, many women leading or working in these organizations are sacrificing their own income and well-being. A staggering 65% of women-led organizations reported that staff members are working without pay to keep services operational. As these organizations enter survival mode, nearly half (48%) have reported rising burnout among their employees, while 88% noted a deterioration in the mental health of the women and girls they serve.
The consequences of these funding cuts are becoming increasingly evident. Half of the women’s organizations have implemented waiting lists or are turning away women and girls in need. Furthermore, 92% of organizations have reported rising poverty levels among the women they assist, and 82% have observed an increase in school dropouts among girls.
Rising Violence and Diminished Safe Spaces
The report also reveals a troubling rise in conflict-related sexual violence, which doubled in 2025 as systems designed to protect survivors began to collapse. A significant 86% of women’s organizations reported an increase in gender-based violence within the communities they serve. Additionally, 62% of these organizations indicated that safe spaces for women and girls have either been significantly reduced or are no longer available.
The implications of these statistics are dire. Women seeking refuge from violence may find shelters that have shut down, pregnant women may have to travel long distances to reach health clinics, and mothers may struggle to secure food for their children. The most vulnerable—women and girls in remote, conflict-affected areas—are often the first to be left behind, with nearly two-thirds (63%) of organizations having already cut services in these regions.
Broader Implications for Women’s Rights
The report warns that the dismantling of women’s organizations is not occurring in isolation but is part of a broader global backlash against the rights of women and girls. One in five organizations has already halted efforts to advance women’s leadership and gender equality. More than half of the organizations surveyed are witnessing a decline in women’s participation in community leadership and local decision-making processes.
UN Women is advocating for sustained investment in women’s organizations, recognizing them as indispensable first responders and defenders of women’s rights. Calltorp stressed the urgency of immediate action, stating that without it, the organizations that have been vital in keeping women and girls alive through the world’s worst crises risk becoming casualties of war.
UN Women continues to partner with and invest in women-led organizations, providing funding, technical support, and advocacy to enhance their leadership and expand access to life-saving services. This collaboration aims to promote inclusive, locally led humanitarian responses that effectively meet the needs of women and girls.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-07-10 19:36:00 • By the Editorial Desk
