Trump Cuts Almost All Development Aid
Trump Cuts Almost All Development Aid
The World is on the Brink of a Humanitarian Disaster. The Trump administration has decided to permanently cut 92% of all development aid provided through USAID with immediate effect. This is a catastrophe for global health, security, and stability and will cost millions of lives. Estimates suggest that this decision alone will result in 8.7 million new HIV infections and 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths. Additionally, millions more will die due to a lack of food, clean drinking water, and life-saving medical care. Previously, the U.S. had announced a 90-day review period to evaluate all aid programmes. However, the decision to halt aid immediately comes much sooner than expected. The U.S. government states that over 90% of aid programs are "not in line with the America First policy" and is cutting $60 billion per year in humanitarian aid. This comes at a time when millions of people worldwide rely on this support for survival. "This is a humanitarian disaster that will cause millions of deaths. Even the most life-saving programmes, such as the distribution of HIV medication, have now been stopped. We therefore urgently call on Minister Veldkamp to meet with his European colleagues to take immediate action. If Europe does not act now, the consequences will be irreversible," says Mark Vermeulen, director of Aidsfonds. The decision comes shortly after a U.S. court ordered the Trump administration to resume aid programmes payments. Instead of receiving the promised budget, aid organisations received a letter last night announcing that all USAID assistance has been immediately stopped.
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