The planned cuts to UN funding by U.S. President Donald Trump would have a "marked effect" on health and aid programs for women refugees and the poorest people of the world, according to a British Cabinet minister, APA reports quoting Anadolu Agency.
Alistair Burt, Britain's minister for international development and the Middle East, told the Huffington Post in a story posted Wednesday that any loss of cash would have a major impact on UN programs.
The U.S. administration said it would reduce its funding of the UN by $285 million for the coming fiscal year, its envoy to the UN announced on Sunday.
The announcement came shortly after UN member nations voted overwhelmingly to reject Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel -- a move that drew condemnation and protests from across the Arab and Muslim world.
The full 193-member UN General Assembly met last week for a rare emergency special session regarding Trump's decision.
Burt said he was aware the relationship between the UN and the U.S. "has been a fraught one".
"It’s true that any loss of funding, particularly in health or education, has a marked effect," he said.
"We are very conscious of some concerns in the American administration about health funding.
"Concerns which we don't share and where we are very determined to make sure there is no adverse effect if funding is cut by the United States on some of the programs, particularly to women and those in need as a result."
"But we hope the United States can resolve their issues with the UN, because the U.S. presence is of huge importance to us all," he added.
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