UNAids Chief Warns HIV Infections and Deaths Could Soar After US Aid Cuts

UNAids Chief Warns HIV Infections and Deaths Could Soar After US Aid Cuts
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HIV infections and Aids-related deaths could surge dramatically over the next four years due to severe cuts in US aid funding, the head of UNAids has warned. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAids, said the abrupt halt to major US support risks an additional 6 million HIV infections and 4 million Aids-related deaths by 2029 if the funding gap is not closed.

Speaking at the UN international development summit in Seville, Spain, Byanyima described the scale of the cuts, particularly the abrupt suspension of the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) under former President Donald Trump, as a “deadly funding crisis.” Pepfar, launched in 2003 by George W. Bush, previously made up 60% of UNAids’ budget.

Byanyima criticised what she sees as a dangerous deprioritisation of global health spending by wealthy nations while military budgets rise. She said the immediate effects include job losses, the collapse of prevention services, halted research, and fewer clinics and support networks, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to new infections.

Global health funding from the US and other donor countries, including the UK, has stagnated in recent years, falling short of the UN’s target for nations to contribute 0.7% of GDP. Byanyima stressed the cuts will push more countries to look for alternative solutions beyond traditional aid, calling instead for “debt justice” and “tax justice” to address global inequalities.

She noted that African nations are seeking innovative ways to bridge funding gaps, highlighting how unequal debt repayments and illicit financial flows undermine development. “The aid model cannot stand any more — it’s too unpredictable,” she said, calling for a shift from charity to “international solidarity.”