Geneva - New York: Europe and the Arabs
A United Nations Population Fund official said that the fund has suspended services funded by US grants that provide a lifeline for women and girls in crises, after the US administration decided to stop almost all US foreign aid programs pending a 90-day review.
At a press conference for UN agencies in Geneva, Beau Smith, the regional director for Asia and the Pacific at UNFPA, said: "What happens when our work is not funded? Women give birth alone in unsanitary conditions. The risk of obstetric fistula increases, newborns die from preventable causes, and survivors of gender-based violence have nowhere to turn for medical or psychological support."
He explained that the messages they received from the US administration are similar to those received by other UN agencies.
He added that they are trying to find more clarity from the US government, expressing his hope to obtain more details in particular about why the fund's programs are affected, "especially those that we hope are exempt under humanitarian principles."
He gave an example of what could happen in Afghanistan, saying: “Between 2025 and 2028, we estimate that the absence of US support will result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 additional unintended pregnancies.”

He expressed hope that the US government would maintain its position as a global leader in development and continue to work with UNFPA to alleviate the suffering of women and their families as a result of disasters they did not cause.

“Insults will not save lives”
For his part, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said they were in close contact with all their offices around the world, which in turn were in close contact with US embassies in their countries, seeking greater clarity on what the US decisions mean.
He added that about 47 percent of the global humanitarian appeal was funded worldwide last year, 47 percent of which came from the US government; “That gives you an indication of how important that is when we are in the situation we are in now, with the messages we are receiving from the US government.”
The UN official said: "Public insults will not save any lives."
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the UN Department of Public Information in Geneva, said that they look forward to continuing to work together and also listening if there are constructive criticisms and points that need to be reviewed, adding that "the Secretary-General said in his previous statement that we want to work on this matter and continue this relationship of trust." According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning, Wednesday.
On the other hand, the UN spokesman stressed the importance of the work of the Human Rights Council for the rights structure in the UN system, and stressed the organization's support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the essential services it provides to millions of Palestinians.
This came in response to a question at the daily press conference about what was reported about US President Donald Trump's intention to sign executive orders this week regarding withdrawing from the Human Rights Council and preventing any future funding for UNRWA. "We will of course see what is signed. The United States will make the decisions that it decides to make, and this does not change our position on the importance of the Human Rights Council as part of the human rights architecture within the United Nations," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Regarding the rumors about the executive order to block future funding for UNRWA, Dujarric said that the issue is not new and does not change the UN's commitment to supporting the agency's work in providing essential services to the Palestinians in accordance with its mandate.