The cessation of food distribution and health services, alongside the stalling of lifesaving aid, is causing a humanitarian crisis. USAID workers express despair over the impact this has on vulnerable populations, with one stating, “It’s heartbreaking for our beneficiaries.” The aid freeze, running into its second week, has raised concerns about the reliability of US partnerships, halting vital programs in crisis-hit regions like Ukraine, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Aid contracts are frozen, jeopardising projects that provide essential services such as clean water and healthcare. Evan Thomas, an environmental engineering professor, warns that without these programs, people will face severe consequences, including displacement and violence, particularly in regions like Kenya. The situation is dire in Sudan, where food kitchens are closing amidst escalating hunger due to ongoing conflict.
The freeze also endangers malaria control programs, threatening to heighten transmission rates in the US. Meanwhile, Afghanistan suffers as funding for support programmes for women is disrupted under the Taliban regime.
International organisations warn the repercussions extend globally, highlighting that the US contributes 47 per cent of humanitarian aid. This funding freeze could destabilise the global humanitarian system, risking long-term harm to poverty alleviation efforts. As the US navigates its foreign policy and aid framework, the implications could be a reversal of hard-earned progress in global health and security.