The new Trump administration is preparing to take executive action that could dramatically reduce America's funding to the United Nations and global humanitarian programs.
The US is currently the UN's biggest contributor, providing almost a quarter of the world body's annual peacekeeping and bureaucratic budget.
If Donald Trump signs the order it's feared it would severely impact the UN's operations around the world.
Nick Harper reports from the UN in New York.
IN: "Donald Trump....."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:51
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TAKE VO
Donald Trump has had a busy few weeks with executive orders.
But there's one he's so far held off signing.
TAKE VO
….a drafted order that would slash US funding to the United Nations by at least 40%.
TAKE VO
In the firing line is the UN's core budget, peacekeeping operations, climate change work, and the UN refugee agency to name just a few.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Françoise Girard, President, International Women's Health Coalition
"If you defund the United Nations and you defund agencies they won't be there when you need them. If for example we have another Ebola pandemic or Zika rears its head again elsewhere in the world, we need the World Health Organization to be well funded to address those pandemics. It will be catastrophic not just for the rest of the world but for the United States itself. As far as I can see it goes against the United States' own interests."
TAKE VO
Like previous Republican administrations, President Trump has already signed the so-called global gag rule back into law, preventing organizations that receive US funding from speaking about abortion.
TAKE VO
That puts the UN Population Fund in a difficult position. It provides access to reproductive health services, particularly in the developing world.
The worry is the $77 million dollars a year the US donates could disappear overnight, as it did under George W Bush.
TAKE VO
The wind of change would also drastically alter dynamics at the UN itself, if America's withdraws its sizable budget.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Dirk Salomons, International Public Affairs, Columbia University
"It's absurd that it carries 25% of its budget at a time when so many countries are playing a big role internationally. This is the time to step up. There's nothing that should stop China, should stop Singapore, should stop Malaysia, the Philippines to become a major donor to humanitarian aid."
TAKE VO
For now though, the UN Secretary-General is trying to down-play the possible threat.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary General
"Sometimes we talk too much about things that have not happened, and when we talk too much about things that have not happened, you trigger the happening of those things. So, one thing you can be absolutely sure is that I will not be making comments on possibilities to enhance the possibilities to possibly be a reality."
TAKE VO
The threat of cuts hangs over the UN. While the executive order has not yet been signed, UN agencies believe it will happen. And when it does, they worry the de-funding will have far-reaching, long-lasting and damaging effects.
SOC
ENDS
The US is currently the UN's biggest contributor, providing almost a quarter of the world body's annual peacekeeping and bureaucratic budget.
If Donald Trump signs the order it's feared it would severely impact the UN's operations around the world.
Nick Harper reports from the UN in New York.
IN: "Donald Trump....."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2:51
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ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0209us-un-funding-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0209us-un-funding-nh-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0209us-un-funding-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0209us-un-funding-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0209us-un-funding-nh-ziz.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0209us-un-funding-nh-gen.mp3
TAKE VO
Donald Trump has had a busy few weeks with executive orders.
But there's one he's so far held off signing.
TAKE VO
….a drafted order that would slash US funding to the United Nations by at least 40%.
TAKE VO
In the firing line is the UN's core budget, peacekeeping operations, climate change work, and the UN refugee agency to name just a few.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Françoise Girard, President, International Women's Health Coalition
"If you defund the United Nations and you defund agencies they won't be there when you need them. If for example we have another Ebola pandemic or Zika rears its head again elsewhere in the world, we need the World Health Organization to be well funded to address those pandemics. It will be catastrophic not just for the rest of the world but for the United States itself. As far as I can see it goes against the United States' own interests."
TAKE VO
Like previous Republican administrations, President Trump has already signed the so-called global gag rule back into law, preventing organizations that receive US funding from speaking about abortion.
TAKE VO
That puts the UN Population Fund in a difficult position. It provides access to reproductive health services, particularly in the developing world.
The worry is the $77 million dollars a year the US donates could disappear overnight, as it did under George W Bush.
TAKE VO
The wind of change would also drastically alter dynamics at the UN itself, if America's withdraws its sizable budget.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Dirk Salomons, International Public Affairs, Columbia University
"It's absurd that it carries 25% of its budget at a time when so many countries are playing a big role internationally. This is the time to step up. There's nothing that should stop China, should stop Singapore, should stop Malaysia, the Philippines to become a major donor to humanitarian aid."
TAKE VO
For now though, the UN Secretary-General is trying to down-play the possible threat.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary General
"Sometimes we talk too much about things that have not happened, and when we talk too much about things that have not happened, you trigger the happening of those things. So, one thing you can be absolutely sure is that I will not be making comments on possibilities to enhance the possibilities to possibly be a reality."
TAKE VO
The threat of cuts hangs over the UN. While the executive order has not yet been signed, UN agencies believe it will happen. And when it does, they worry the de-funding will have far-reaching, long-lasting and damaging effects.
SOC
ENDS