A new report by UN Women has found that at least one million women and girls living through some of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises have lost access to critical support since January 2025, as organizations providing life-saving services struggle to survive amid unprecedented funding shortages.

The report, Beyond the Breaking Point, cautions that women’s rights and women-led organisations working on the front lines of conflict and humanitarian crises are confronting an increasing financial crisis that jeopardises vital services for victims of violence, displaced families, and vulnerable communities worldwide.

Millions of vulnerable people are more at danger of violence, displacement, hunger, and the loss of vital services at a time when armed conflicts are at their highest point in almost eight decades.

The UN Women report, which is based on responses from 855 women-led and women’s rights organisations in 52 countries affected by crises and conflicts, presents a concerning picture of organisations that are working on the front lines of humanitarian crises but may have to close because of a lack of funding.

Many of these organisations offer services that are frequently unavailable through conventional humanitarian systems, such as support for communities impacted by war and instability, emergency aid for displaced families, protection services for women and girls, and support for survivors of sexual violence related to conflict.

According to Sofia Calltorp, UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Action, “the women’s organizations at risk of being shut down are on the frontlines of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.“

“In countries including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti, they operate where international actors cannot and stay long after global attention has moved on. Every dollar withdrawn from women’s organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive.”
Sofia Calltorp

Significant cuts to international aid expenditures have made the funding crisis worse. Due to internal financial strains and rising defence spending, the United States, which used to be the greatest aid provider in the world, has cut back on its foreign aid spending. Other significant donors have also cut back on their development and humanitarian budgets.

The effects are particularly noticeable in nations that are already dealing with political unrest, economic hardship, and violence. According to UN Women, there are currently 120 million women and girls in need of protection and humanitarian aid globally.

However, the organizations responsible for reaching these populations are increasingly unable to meet rising demand. The report found that 84% of surveyed organizations have experienced increased demand for their services since January 2025, while nearly nine in ten said they can no longer meet current levels of need.

The situation is particularly alarming in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti, where humanitarian challenges have continued to grow. According to the report, 40 per cent of surveyed women’s organizations are at risk of shutting down temporarily or permanently within the next year because of insufficient funding.

For many organizations, survival has depended on the personal sacrifices of the women who run them. The report found that 65 per cent of women-led organizations have staff working without pay in order to continue delivering essential services.

The financial strain has also created significant emotional and psychological pressure. Nearly half of organizations surveyed reported increasing burnout among their staff, while 88% stated the mental health conditions of the women and girls they support are deteriorating.

The effects are becoming more apparent as these organisations deteriorate. The introduction of waiting lists or the rejection of women and girls in need were reported by half of the studied groups. In the meantime, 82% of respondents indicated they were witnessing an increase in the number of girls quitting school, and 92% reported that poverty among the women they assist was on the rise.

According to the UN Women report, gender-based violence is on the rise in many conflict contexts, and the crisis is developing at a particularly risky time.

Women and Girls Bear the Cost of Humanitarian Aid Cuts

The drop in support for women-led organisations coincides with a significant increase in the hazards faced by conflict-affected women and girls.

According to UN Women, conflict-related sexual abuse will quadruple by 2025, while many protective institutions aimed at assisting survivors are losing capability.

According to the report, 86% of the women’s organisations polled reported an increase in gender-based violence in the communities they serve. Furthermore, 62% reported that safe spaces for women and girls had disappeared or been considerably decreased due to funding difficulties.

Individual accounts of people having to make increasingly tough decisions lie behind the numbers. When a woman arrives at a shelter to flee domestic or conflict-related violence, she can find that services are no longer available. In order to receive medical attention, a pregnant lady in a distant location might have to travel great distances. It could be difficult for a displaced mother to provide her kids with food and other necessities.

The most impacted organisations are those who operate in isolated and difficult-to-reach areas, where it is frequently very difficult for foreign humanitarian organisations to access vulnerable individuals.

Of the organisations surveyed, over two-thirds, or 63%, reported having already cut back on services in these areas.

UN Women cautioned that the effects go beyond urgent humanitarian needs, endangering global advancements in women’s equality, leadership, and rights.

According to the report, there is a global reaction against women’s rights that coincides with the decline of women-led organisations. Programs aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s leadership have already been halted by one in five organisations assessed.

Additionally, fewer women are participating in local decision-making and community leadership, according to more than half of the organisations.

In addition to being a humanitarian priority, UN Women believes that sustained investment in these organisations is essential to long-term peace and recovery.