Open letter calls on EU leaders to act following US foreign assistance freeze
27 February 2025In a new open letter to the EU, 96 leading humanitarian organisations have joined VOICE EU to urge European leaders to take a stand following the US foreign assistance freeze.
As the U.S. freeze on foreign aid and the dismantling of USAID continue to dominate headlines, the EU must take a clear and principled stand in solidarity with communities affected by crises.
The implications of the U.S. decision are far-reaching, disrupting the entire global humanitarian system and upending the lives of millions. This decision comes as several other countries are cutting back on foreign aid.
The figures are shocking, revealing the immense and growing divide between humanitarian needs and available funding. In recent years, the humanitarian funding gap has tripled, from $8.4 billion in 2016 to $26 billion in 2024. This is driven by a massive increase in needs, as well as significant cuts from multiple donors, including European states.
Since the U.S. announcement, Plan International has been assessing the impact of the dramatic changes to U.S. foreign assistance and the consequences for children worldwide, especially girls. Among others, our analysis indicates that global cuts to overseas development assistance (ODA) could result in a loss of up to $5 billion in funding for gender equality each year.
Immediate steps are required to mitigate the negative effects in the short-term and find sustainable solutions in the long-term. For this reason, Plan International’s EU Liaison Office has signed the open letter calling on EU institutions and member states to take decisive action, urging them to:
- Boost humanitarian funding and ensure that the current global crisis serves as a wake-up call during discussions on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
- Provide emergency support measures, including administrative, financial, and legal support, to humanitarian actors, particularly local NGOs facing significant challenges.
- In the long-term, convene a global conversation on shaping a principled, sustainable, flexible humanitarian system that works for crisis-affected communities and includes a range of actors such as new donors, the private sector, and strong EU support.
Rooted in the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, humanitarian action saves lives and strengthens the resilience of communities every day. EU institutions and member states cannot afford to turn a blind eye, as the stakes are too high for millions of people.
You can read the open letter here.
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