The suspension of foreign aid programs by US President Donald Trump could place 6.3 million people at risk of dying from HIV and AIDS over the next four years, a United Nations agency warned on Friday.

"There is still a lot of confusion about how the waiver will be implemented, and we're seeing significant disruptions in the delivery of treatment services," said UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Christine Stegling during a UN briefing in Geneva.

Stegling emphasized the critical role of US assistance in the global HIV/AIDS response, revealing that 20 million of the world’s 30 million HIV-positive individuals rely on US-funded treatment programs.

The funding freeze particularly impacts the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which finances 70 percent of global HIV/AIDS response efforts. Without its reauthorization between 2025 and 2029 — and in the absence of alternative funding sources — UNAIDS predicts a 400 percent increase in AIDS-related deaths.

“That’s 6.3 million lives lost to AIDS in the coming years,” Stegling warned.

One of the most severe consequences of the aid suspension will be the collapse of community health systems. Stegling cited Ethiopia as a dire example, where 5,000 public health worker contracts, previously supported by US aid, have been abruptly terminated.

“The ripple effects of this decision will be devastating, particularly in vulnerable communities where access to life-saving treatment is already limited,” she added.

As uncertainty looms over the future of global HIV/AIDS funding, health experts and humanitarian organizations continue to urge swift action to prevent a catastrophic health crisis. — with PNA