UNICEF has recently been grappling with significant budget cuts, making it one of the many organizations affected by the global funding crisis. These cuts threaten to reverse decades of progress in child development and protection. More critically, they put the lives of millions at even greater risk, especially in conflict zones such as Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.

Following major funding cuts, UNICEF warns that in 2025, over 45 million children across the region will need humanitarian assistance to survive, up from 32 million in 2020, marking a 41 per cent increase in just five years.

The impact of the funding crisis goes far beyond emergency health and nutrition. Cuts to basic education services mean less support for schools, fewer trained teachers, and fewer safe learning environments. Already, 30 million children are out of school across the Middle East and North Africa. From the Reduced funding, education in Syria and in conflict zones has led to fewer learning materials, teacher training, and repairs to damaged school buildings, contributing to overcrowded, unsafe classrooms. Many children, especially those displaced, now face higher risk of dropping out or missing years of schooling altogether. Also, in Gaza alone, 645,000 children have been out of school since October 2023, with all schools completely shuttered due to the ongoing conflict.

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze USAID has deprived the aid sector of $60 billion Which has also motivated other countries like France and Germany to reduce their development aid by 40% and 50%, respectively, while the UK has reduced its budget from 0.5% to 0.3% .

In Lebanon and Jordan, funding shortfalls have deeply affected refugee support programs. In Lebanon, over 115,000 refugee families lost access to joint UNHCR/WFP cash assistance.Healthcare coverage has been reduced, forcing refugees to pay up to 40% of hospital bills, while cuts to shelter repair and protection services, including support for survivors of gender-based violence.In Jordan, nearly one-third fewer refugee families are receiving basic needs cash assistance, and those still covered have seen payments reduced by 25%. This comes as 70% of Syrian refugees in Jordan live in poor housing conditions and nearly all refugee households remain trapped in debt, resorting to negative coping strategies like child labor and begging

In Syria and Yemen, the consequences are equally severe. UNHCR reduced its Syria budget by 20%, cutting staff and core programs such as shelter, relief, and livelihoods. As a result, 225,000 people will lose protection services, 60,000 will go without shelter, and tens of thousands more will be denied cash, relief, or livelihood assistance. In Yemen, where displacement crises are among the world’s worst, funding cuts have led to a 25% reduction in cash assistance, affecting 20,000 households (about 140,000 people). Shelter programs have also been scaled back, leaving 66,000 internally displaced people in sub-standard living conditions, while winter clothing and support like blankets and clothing has been dropped for many. These cuts not only heighten poverty and protection risks but also risk fueling instability and dangerous onward migration.