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approximately 200,000 More children under the age of five are expected to die across the world this year compared to 2024 – for the first time in this century – after unprecedented Cuts in international aid from countries including the UK and US
A report from the Gates Foundation estimates that, by the end of 2025, there will be 4.8 million death of childrenCompared to 4.6 million last year. Deaths among children under 5 have declined every year worldwide since 2000, when the death toll topped 10 million.
“Sadly, this year is almost certain to be the first year this century where it not only stops, but reverses,” said Mark Susman, CEO of the Gates Foundation. Independent,
“By far, the largest single cause of death is cuts in international aid,” he added, “When you step back on short notice, there are consequences, and sadly, these are the consequences human life is measured in,
The report said that if funding for health is reduced by 20 percent, in line with cuts proposed by many countries, 12 million more children could die by 2045.
Bill GatesPresident of the Foundation, said: “There is something particularly devastating about a child dying from a disease we know how to prevent. For decades, the world has made steady progress in saving children’s lives. But now, as the challenges continue to mount, that progress is being reversed.
“This means more than 5,000 classrooms of children were lost before they learned how to write their names or tie their shoes.”
Former Secretary of State for International Development, Sir Andrew Mitchell, described the report’s findings as a “appalling projection”.
He said, “It is well proven that when spent correctly, foreign aid makes the difference between life and death. Now budgets have been cut around the world – not least, and this is shocking, by this Labor government.”
“The collapse of international leadership is sounding the death knell for the world’s most vulnerable people,” he said.
Conservative MP David Mundell, who is a member of Parliament’s International Development Select Committee, said: “Once again we see that decisions to cut spending or change the way aid is delivered have real-life consequences and as always those most affected are the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, in this case children.
“The UK needs to step up and demonstrate leadership in this world of underfunding in how we make the best use of the resources we have and work with partners to ensure they benefit those most in need”.
Gates Foundation – which supports The Independent’s Rethinking global aid Project – The report was compiled in partnership with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
The biggest global aid cut so far has come from the US. When? donald trump After taking office again in January, he canceled all foreign aid spending overnight. Although some of that funding has been turned back on, the disruption is “absolutely” due to which people lost their lives,” Mr. Suzman said. “Those 200,000 additional children who will die from preventable causes is essentially a direct line from those funding cuts.”
US funding for global health remains two-thirds below where it was in 2024. Meanwhile, the UK is in the process of cutting its foreign aid budget by 40 percent, one effect of which is the risk of thousands of people leaving. More children are dying from malaria,
Mr Suzman called on the UK and other rich countries to finance the most effective tools vaccines and bed nets, “which represent a small share of their national budgets but have a disproportionate impact in terms of saving lives in low- and middle-income countries”.
,Vaccines remain the most transformative tool In global health, this is why we are working vaccines for TBFor malaria, for hivBecause if they are successful, they could be transformative,” Mr. Susman said. But, he said, “If I had to choose one, I would choose the malaria vaccine.”
Malaria is the world’s biggest killer of children, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 600,000 people who die from the disease each year. Relatively new vaccines have proven that it is possible to inoculate against the disease, but they provide only moderate protection that wanes quickly. Trials are underway to find more effective and longer-lasting ways of preventing the deadly parasite.
The government announced a 15 percent cut in its contributions to the world’s largest international funder. HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria Treatment last month.
The Gates report also found that 90 percent of child deaths could be prevented for less than $100 per person per year to strengthen health care systems, while countries get a return of $54 for every dollar spent on vaccines.
“This is really the best way to help those low- and middle-income countries build themselves long term self sufficiency What they aspire to,” Mr. Susman said.
Amidst the decline in the cost of living and increased spending on defense due to several global crises, debate has arisen in many rich countries about the public’s willingness to accept taxes being spent on foreign aid.
“When the decision is framed in the abstract,” Mr. Suzman said, “‘Should we give money to global health rather than heating for pensioners?’ You’d say, ‘No, of course we shouldn’t do that”. But, he added, when you ask most people: “‘If, for a pound, we could save the life of a child in Africa or Asia by getting them vaccinated who otherwise wouldn’t have them, are you comfortable spending a pound of your taxpayer dollars for that? Almost all of them would say yes”.
This article was produced as part of The Independent Rethinking global aid Project