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Child Deaths Surge as Aid Cuts Bite
4 Dec
Summary
- 200,000 more children may die before age five this year.
- International aid cuts by US, UK, and Germany are cited.
- Global development assistance for health fell by 27%.
Decades of progress in child survival are at risk of reversing, with an estimated 200,000 more children expected to die before their fifth birthday this year. This projected increase marks a significant setback, potentially raising the number of preventable child deaths from 4.6 million to 4.8 million.
The primary driver behind this alarming trend is the substantial reduction in international aid. Major donors, including the United States, Britain, and Germany, have decreased their contributions, leading to an approximate 27% drop in global development assistance for health compared to the previous year.
This reversal highlights the critical impact of funding on child mortality. Experts urge a renewed focus on innovative tools and proven solutions like vaccination and primary healthcare investment to counteract the negative effects of aid cuts and safeguard child health globally.




