In a candid discussion at the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Oslo headquarters, Jan Egeland, the organisation’s Secretary General, emphasised the urgent need for nations like China and India to enhance their contributions to global foreign aid. He voiced concerns over the ramifications of potential military expenditure increases among NATO countries, warning that such actions could lead to a significant strategic error with long-lasting consequences.
A Shift in the Aid Landscape
Egeland, who has a storied history in humanitarian efforts, highlighted the stark reality that, while the United States has historically been a major contributor to foreign aid, recent cuts have drastically affected the operational capacity of NGOs. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which has seen its workforce shrink from 15,000 to 14,000, has been notably impacted by the erratic funding patterns that followed the Trump administration’s changes to US aid programmes. “Until last year, the US was our largest donor, followed by the Norwegian government. Then the US funding was frozen overnight,” Egeland recounted, underscoring the chaos that ensued. Major humanitarian initiatives, including vital cash transfers to victims of the Ukraine conflict and food support for Sudanese bakeries, have been permanently halted for 2026.
Despite some signs of renewed US support for foreign aid, Egeland remains sceptical about future funding levels. “There remains a huge question mark over the funding we can expect from the US moving forward,” he stated, reflecting a broader uncertainty that has gripped the humanitarian sector.
Accountability for Global Aid Contributions
While the focus often rests on the reductions in US aid, Egeland stressed that attention should also be directed towards the minimal contributions from other nations, particularly China and India. He pointed out that despite their growing economies, these countries continue to provide scant foreign aid. “We need to be more vocal in holding accountable not just the US, but also countries like China and those in Southeast Asia,” he urged. Citing India’s recent accomplishments in space exploration, he questioned the disparity in priorities: “How can it be that India can carry out a moon landing on the dark side of the moon, but not provide aid for our operations in Sudan?”
Egeland’s critique is underscored by the stark contrast in contributions. Last year, China provided a mere $16 million to UN-led humanitarian efforts, while India contributed nothing,