Geneva – The United States announced that Yemen will not be among the countries benefiting from a new $2 billion funding pledge for United Nations humanitarian programs, in a move accompanied by a stern warning to the international body to “adapt or fade.”

The announcement came during an event in Geneva, where a senior U.S. official clarified that the new financial commitment will exclude both Yemen and Afghanistan, despite the scale of humanitarian needs in the two countries. The official cited Washington’s concerns over potential misuse of aid funds in certain contexts.

According to the statement, the current administration considers preventing taxpayer money from reaching groups designated as terrorist organizations a top priority. The official pointed to what he described as evidence of UN aid being diverted to the Taliban in Afghanistan, calling it a direct reason for excluding Kabul and Sana’a from the new pledge.

The decision underscores Washington’s growing insistence on accountability in humanitarian operations, while raising questions about the future of aid delivery in conflict-affected regions where needs remain acute.