The Gates Foundation has warned that millions of children around the world risk dying due to cuts in funding for global health, risking decades of progress on child survival. In its new report, We Can’t Stop at Almost, the foundation said that for the first time this century, the number of children dying before their fifth birthday is projected to rise.

The report states that 4.6 million children died in 2024 before turning five, while this year, the number is projected to rise to an estimated 4.8 million. The report warned that if global health funding cuts of 20 percent persist, an additional 12 million children could die by 2045.

The Chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, expressed optimism that, in spite of budget constraints, the world can still make a difference: "By making the right priorities and commitments, and investing in high-impact solutions, I’m confident we can stop a significant reversal in child deaths and help ensure millions more children are alive in 2045."