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The international medical relief agency, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), is concerned that the recent tsunami disaster could leave little funding for HIV/AIDS.
MSF spokeswoman Annick Hamel told Agence France-Presse: "One potential source of concern is that people have already given for the tsunami massively and generously, and that the next time an appeal is made, whatever the cause is, the well of generosity will be dry."
But other experts believe the big upturn in funding and political commitment on HIV/AIDS, which started in 2003, will be untouched.
"We are not worried so much about funding going away from HIV/AIDS. Funds are very much needed at a time of calamity ... we are also confident that a portion of the fresh funds [for the tsunami] will be utilised for fighting the new risk of HIV infection," Suman Mehta, UNAIDS Associate director for Asia, Pacific and Middle East division, confirmed.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions