The Trump administration has terminated humanitarian aid programs in several countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe. The moves were made “for the convenience of the U.S. Government” as part of a broader effort to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Around 60 letters canceling contracts were sent over the past week, affecting major projects with the World Food Program, which provides food aid to millions worldwide. The program will lose funding for programs in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.
US officials say the cuts will impact vulnerable populations, including Syrian refugees, Lebanese people, and those struggling in Yemen, where one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters is unfolding. Aid workers are still trying to understand the full scope of the cuts.
The Trump administration had pledged to spare urgent lifesaving programs, but many critics argue that this promise was not kept. The moves come as part of a larger effort by the Republican administration to reduce wasteful spending and advance its policy agenda.
The US has already canceled thousands of USAID contracts, and the latest moves bring the number of surviving programs down from around 900 to under 60.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-administration-terminates-some-usaid-contracts-providing-lifesaving-food-aid