US sanctions cause over half a million deaths annually, mostly children
The Lancet journal published research revealing that US sanctions result in over 564,000 deaths each year, with more than half being children under the age of five. This highlights the severe humanitarian consequences of economic sanctions.
Source The Lancet
Since 1970, Western sanctions have caused 38 million deaths, with annual fatalities ranging from 400,000 to over a million. Currently, about 25% of the world’s population—around 2 billion people in 54 countries—are under US sanctions. Critics argue these sanctions create crises that justify external intervention and regime change, especially targeting countries in the Global South by undermining their economies and political stability.
This situation underscores a complex geopolitical reality where sanctions inflict not only economic harm but fatal consequences on millions. Moving forward, it is crucial to reconsider sanction policies to reduce civilian suffering and avoid humanitarian disasters.
