Public health consequences of humanitarian aid reductions in fragile and low resource settings

Abstract

Abstract Humanitarian aid cuts are increasingly placing pressure on global public health by disrupting nutrition, immunization, maternal care, infectious disease control, and mental health services in low- and middle-income countries. These funding reductions disproportionately affect children, women, refugees, and populations in fragile settings, increasing the risk of preventable mortality and widening inequities. This commentary argues that strategic prioritization of essential services, strengthened localization, diversified financing approaches, and integration of emergency health services within resilient national and multilateral systems are important priorities for protecting health gains and supporting long-term system resilience.