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From Daily Star · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • At least one million women and girls have lost access to vital support due to significant cuts in foreign aid spending since January 2025.
  • UN Women reports a collapse of women's organizations globally amid soaring needs, with 120 million women and girls requiring humanitarian assistance.
  • Organizations are struggling to meet demand, with many at risk of closure, leading to devastating consequences for survivors of violence and vulnerable populations.

A critical collapse of women's organizations worldwide has left at least one million women and girls without access to essential support, UN Women announced Friday. This crisis stems from dramatic cuts in foreign aid spending since the start of 2025, occurring precisely when humanitarian needs are escalating.

at least one million women and girls affected by conflict and crisis have lost access to critical services and support

— Sofia CalltorpUN Women's head of humanitarian action, describing the impact of foreign aid cuts.

Sofia Calltorp, UN Women's head of humanitarian action, described the situation as "deeply disturbing," noting that women's groups working on the frontlines of complex crises in places like Afghanistan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Yemen are at risk of shutting down. "Every dollar withdrawn from women's organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive," she stated.

We know that this number... is just the tip of the iceberg

— Sofia CalltorpUN Women's head of humanitarian action, emphasizing the scale of the crisis.

The report highlights that with armed conflicts at their highest levels since World War II, approximately 120 million women and girls require humanitarian assistance and protection. Data from 855 women-led organizations across 52 crisis-affected countries reveals that 84 percent have seen increased demand for their services, while "nearly nine in 10 say they can no longer meet current levels of need." Worryingly, two in five organizations surveyed anticipate temporary or permanent closure within the next year.

Every dollar withdrawn from women's organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive

— Sofia CalltorpUN Women's head of humanitarian action, detailing the consequences of funding cuts.

To sustain operations, staff in 65 percent of women-led organizations are working without pay, and nearly half report rising burnout. Calltorp warned of a doubling in cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2025, coinciding with the erosion of protection systems. The consequences are dire: women seeking refuge may find shelters closed, pregnant women may face longer journeys for healthcare, and mothers might be denied food for their children. UN Women emphasized that these impacts cripple the humanitarian response and dismantle vital support structures.

Nearly nine in 10 say they can no longer meet current levels of need

— UN WomenFindings from a report on women-led organizations in crisis-affected countries.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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