HI Warns of Drastic Cuts to International Aid for People with Disabilities

While 239 million people will need humanitarian aid in 2026, the United Nations expects to be able to support only 89 million of them due to budget cuts. This humanitarian funding crisis has not spared HI, which witnesses firsthand, every day, the severe impact these decisions have on people with disabilities, those who continue to bear the brunt.

People with Disabilities, Among Those Most Affected  

Like many organizations, HI’s programs have been severely affected since 2025: between 2024 and 2026, the organization’s budget decreased by approximately 25%. This drastic reduction places people with disabilities in an untenable situation and forces humanitarian workers into inhumane dilemmas. 

In Kenya, where HI supports refugee populations in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, approximately 855,000 refugees are hosted, an estimated 10% of whom have a disability. HI is the sole provider of specialized services in these areas. The magnitude of the financial crisis now poses a direct threat to the continuity of its operations: more than 280 staff members have had their contracts terminated due to lack of funding, the number of people supported has nearly been halved, and, following a 30% reduction in 2025, the budget for these activities is set to plummet by an additional 61% in 2026. 

In Nepal, the situation is just as alarming. Programs providing rehabilitation, education, and economic support to the most vulnerable families have been cut by 40% as of the first quarter of 2025. The direct consequences of these project suspensions are severe: 3,200 people with disabilities have been deprived of services—42% of whom are children— and more than 7,200 people who receive indirect support are affected by this interruption in assistance. 

In Laos, Cambodia, Senegal, and Iraq, budgets allocated to demining have also been eliminated following cuts to funding for mine action. 

Jérôme Bobin, HI Director of Institutional Funding, says,

“By 2025, many countries—starting with the United States—had drastically cut their contributions to humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, needs continue to grow. The first victims of this withdrawal are the most vulnerable, particularly people with disabilities and their families. What future awaits victims of conflict or natural disasters, and displaced persons? What kind of education can a child with a disability receive without access to adaptive equipment? What protection is available for a girl exposed to violence in a conflict zone? In the face of unstable international funding, we must defend the very principle of international solidarity, as well as the dignity and hope of those who need it most.”

The Abandonment of States: A Bleak Outlook for Disability in International Aid 

With approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of disability—80% of whom reside in low- and middle-income countries—it is essential to ensure that development efforts and humanitarian action are inclusive and accessible. In 2025, 48 million people with disabilities required humanitarian assistance. 

Despite the official recognition of their rights, support for people with disabilities remains underfunded. At the same time, stigma, inaccessible infrastructure, and systemic exclusion from education and economic opportunities continue to be widespread around the world. 

Humanitarian action is at a critical turning point, marked by a collapse in government funding for aid and increasing restrictions on NGOs. It is our responsibility to affirm, more strongly than ever, the universal value of solidarity and the essential role of civil society. 

"At HI, we are adapting and moving forward with determination: by strengthening local partnerships, rethinking our approaches to increase our impact, and exploring new funding avenues. What will never change, however, is the standard that guides our rehabilitation care. The quality of care we owe to every person we support is non-negotiable. Preserving this excellence means protecting lives and remaining true to the very essence of our mission,” says Jean-Pierre Delomier, HI Deputy Director of International Operations.

International aid is a lifeline for millions of people with disabilities, who are often among the poorest segments of the population. In fact, massive cuts to official development assistance disproportionately affect people with disabilities, limiting their access to healthcare, basic services, or education, and exacerbating existing inequalities and marginalization; millions of people with disabilities risk being even further excluded from aid systems. For example, a study conducted by HI in May 2025 among 1,280 refugees with disabilities and caregivers living in Uganda revealed a rapid deterioration in living conditions following the suspension of food aid; 54% of households with children with disabilities and 52% of people with disabilities were excluded from the World Food Programme (WFP) food aid, thereby depriving them of vital support. 

Projects dedicated to people with disabilities are essential to eliminating barriers to inclusion and increasing their autonomy, resilience, and opportunities. 

Spokespersons are available for interviews upon request.