Agency for International Development has drawn widespread criticism from congressional Democrats and raised questions and concern about the influence billionaire ally Elon Musk wields over the federal government.
USAID funds projects in some countries aimed at fighting epidemics, educating children, providing clean water and supporting other areas of development. The stop-work order has upended many of those projects, and has seen nurses laid off and clinics closed in more than 25 countries where two-thirds of all child deaths occur globally, said Janeen Madan Keller, policy fellow and deputy director of global health policy at the Center for Global Development.
World Food Program, mostly to assist Venezuelans. The humanitarian agency has been seeking to curb production of the drug since the early s. Last year, the U. Motsoaledi says the U. Halting U. European nations are discussing increasing aid, but a European diplomat told the AP that will not make up for the loss of the U. In civil-war-torn Sudan , which is grappling with cholera , malaria and measles, the aid freeze means , people will be at risk of catching and spreading those diseases, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Last year, it sharply increased support for programs in Armenia as the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sought to reduce links with Russia and strengthen ties with the United States and the European Union. The aid freeze means several independent broadcasters have been forced to cut some of their programs. Doctors of the World Turkey says it has been forced to lay off staff and shutter 12 field hospitals it runs across northern Syria, a region devastated by years of war and a huge earthquake.
Bilgin said the impact on northern Syria, where millions rely on outside medical aid, could be catastrophic. Emina Bosnjak of the Sarajevo Open Center said USAID promotes awareness of discrimination, violence and hate speech, and marginalized groups would suffer if that stops. He said the funding freeze could erase years of gains made in protecting sexual minorities in Uganda, one of more than 30 African countries where homosexuality is criminalized.
