Pakistan, July 28 -- France's global aid efforts face serious threats following Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's announcement of €700 million in cuts from the 2026 development budget. This decision is part of a larger €43.8 billion plan to reduce France's growing public deficit. Nearly 190 NGOs have expressed alarm over the cuts, warning that essential humanitarian projects supporting health, food, and water access could be severely impacted.

Corentin Martiniault from Coordination Sud, a network of 188 French NGOs, said the scale of the cuts is "unprecedented" and could reverse years of progress. France had previously ranked fifth among global donors for development aid. However, with repeated budget reductions since 2024, ex...