US decision to deny funds could cost thousands of lives - UN population agency

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today voiced regret that the United States administration has decided to withhold $34 million appropriated by Congress for the agency, warning that lives will be lost as a result.

UNFPA called the US administration’s reason for continuing to withhold funding for a third straight year – that the agency supports coerced abortions in China – “baseless.” The US State Department conducted an assessment which found no evidence to back the allegations, and instead reported that the Fund had registered its strong opposition to coercive practices. That team recommended that funds allocated by Congress be released to UNFPA.

Three other independent teams, from the UN, the British Parliament and a multi-faith panel of religious leaders, reached the same conclusion, UNFPA said.

The US is the only country to withhold funding to UNFPA for non-budgetary reasons, and the impact will be felt, according to agency chief Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, who said the denied contribution "could have saved thousands of lives."

UNFPA estimates that Washington's $34 million could have helped prevent as many as 2 million unwanted pregnancies and nearly 800,000 abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths and over 77,000 infant and child deaths. The funds could also have been used to scale up promising maternal health and HIV-prevention efforts.

"Historically, the United States has been a world leader in promoting reproductive health and family planning and we hope it will take up that role again," Ms. Obaid said. "Promoting global health and alleviating poverty are urgent tasks that require strong partnerships and international cooperation."

UNFPA works in nearly 140 countries to increase access to reproductive health services, including family planning, to promote safe motherhood, and to prevent unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.