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الوسم: foreign aid

  • USAID Cuts Could Result in 14 Million Deaths in Five Years, Researchers Warn

    USAID Cuts Could Result in 14 Million Deaths in Five Years, Researchers Warn

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    A recently laid off USAID employee leaves work as former staff members and supporters bid farewell outside USAID offices in Washington, D.C., on February 21, 2025. — Reuters

    More than 14 million of the world’s most at-risk individuals, including a significant number of young children, may face death due to the Trump administration’s cuts to US foreign aid, according to a study released on Tuesday.

    This research, published in the esteemed Lancet journal, coincided with a gathering of global leaders and business executives at a UN conference in Spain this week, aiming to revitalize the struggling aid sector.

    The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was responsible for over 40% of global humanitarian funding prior to Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January. Shortly thereafter, Trump’s close advisor and the world’s wealthiest individual, Elon Musk, claimed to have severely undermined the agency.

    The funding reductions “threaten to abruptly halt—and potentially reverse—two decades of health improvements for vulnerable populations,” cautioned Davide Rasella, a co-author of the study and researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).

    “For many low- and middle-income nations, the shock from these cuts would be comparable to a global pandemic or a significant military conflict,” he stated.

    Analyzing data from 133 countries, the international research team concluded that USAID funding had averted 91 million deaths in developing nations between 2001 and 2021. Their models indicated that an 83% reduction in funding—announced by the U.S. government earlier this year—could notably increase death rates.

    According to their projections, over 14 million preventable deaths could occur by 2030 as a result. This alarming figure includes more than 4.5 million children under the age of five, translating to around 700,000 child deaths annually.

    For context, an estimated 10 million soldiers lost their lives during World War I.

    Programs funded by USAID were found to be associated with a 15% drop in overall mortality rates; however, for children under five, the decline was even more pronounced at 32%.

    Specifically, USAID funding was notably effective in preventing deaths from diseases. The study revealed that there were 65% fewer deaths from HIV/AIDS in countries that received substantial USAID support compared to those with minimal or no assistance. Deaths from malaria and neglected tropical diseases were similarly halved.

    Time for an Increase

    Following the significant cuts to USAID, several other major donors, including Germany, the UK, and France, announced similar reductions to their foreign aid budgets.

    These reductions, particularly within the European Union, could lead to “even more preventable deaths in the years to come,” stated study co-author Caterina Monti from ISGlobal.

    However, researchers emphasized that the grim projections regarding mortality are based on current aid commitments, so they might improve if conditions change.

    This week, dozens of international leaders are convening in Seville, Spain for the largest aid conference in a decade. Notably, the U.S. government will not be participating.

    “This is the moment to increase funding—not cut it back,” Rasella urged.

    Prior to funding reductions, USAID comprised only 0.3% of total U.S. federal spending.

    “American citizens contribute approximately 17 cents a day to USAID, totaling around $64 each year,” noted study co-author James Macinko from the University of California, Los Angeles. “I believe most people would support continued funding for USAID if they understood just how impactful such a small investment can be in saving lives.”

  • USAID Cuts May Result in 14 Million Deaths in Next 5 Years: Study

    USAID Cuts May Result in 14 Million Deaths in Next 5 Years: Study

    A recently laid-off USAID employee receives farewell wishes from former colleagues outside the USAID offices in Washington, DC, on February 21, 2025. — Reuters

    According to a research study published on Tuesday, more than 14 million of the world’s most vulnerable individuals—approximately one-third of whom are young children—could face death due to the dismantling of US foreign aid by the Trump administration.

    This study, featured in the esteemed Lancet journal, coincides with a UN conference taking place in Spain this week, where world and industry leaders aim to rejuvenate the struggling aid sector.

    The US Agency for International Development (USAID) was responsible for more than 40% of global humanitarian funding until Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January.

    Shortly thereafter, Trump’s close advisor—and the wealthiest person in the world, Elon Musk—boasted about having placed the agency “through the woodchipper.”

    Davide Rasella, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and co-author of the study, warned that funding reductions “put at risk the sudden halt—and even reversal—of two decades of health progress for vulnerable populations.”

    He noted, “For many low- and middle-income countries, the impact of these cuts would be comparable in magnitude to a global pandemic or a significant military conflict.”

    By examining data from 133 nations, the international research team estimated that USAID funding has saved approximately 91 million lives in developing countries from 2001 to 2021.

    Using modeling, the researchers projected that an 83% reduction in funding—an amount announced by the US government earlier this year—could result in over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030. This statistic includes more than 4.5 million children under five, translating to around 700,000 child deaths annually.

    As a frame of reference, about 10 million soldiers are believed to have died during World War I.

    The research indicated that programs supported by USAID were associated with a 15% decline in overall deaths; for children under five, the reduction was even steeper at 32%.

    Additionally, USAID funding proved highly effective in preventing deaths from diseases: in countries receiving robust support, HIV/AIDS fatalities were 65% lower than in areas with minimal or no USAID assistance. Deaths from malaria and neglected tropical diseases were similarly halved.

    Time for Expansion

    Following the significant cuts to USAID, several other major donors, including Germany, the UK, and France, announced plans to decrease their foreign aid budgets.

    These aid reductions, particularly within the European Union, could result in “even more additional deaths in coming years,” cautioned study co-author Caterina Monti of ISGlobal.

    However, researchers stressed that the dire projections for deaths are based on the current level of pledged aid, which could change if the circumstances evolve.

    World leaders are convening this week in Seville, Spain, for the largest aid conference in a decade, although the US will not be present.

    “This is the moment to increase funding, not decrease it,” Rasella asserted.

    Before its budget reduction, USAID accounted for just 0.3% of total US federal spending.

    As per study co-author James Macinko from the University of California, Los Angeles, “American citizens contribute about 17 cents daily to USAID, roughly $64 annually. Many would likely support ongoing funding for USAID if they realized how impactful such a modest contribution can be in saving millions of lives.”

  • US Government Announces USAID Shutdown by July 2025

    Protesters in front of the USAID building in Washington, DC, after a memo instructed employees to work remotely on February 3, 2025.
    Protesters gather outside the USAID building which has closed its doors to staff following a memo urging agency personnel to work from home, in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2025. — Reuters

    WASHINGTON: The U.S. government has announced plans to shut down the international aid agency USAID by July 2025, a decision influenced by President Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce foreign aid funding, which has sparked significant backlash.

    In a statement released on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated, “Today, the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have informed Congress of their intention to reorganize, which will involve transferring specific functions of USAID to the Department by July 1, 2025.”

    Rubio noted that the State Department also intends to “eliminate the remaining USAID functions that do not correspond with the Administration’s goals.”

    He lamented, “Sadly, USAID has deviated from its original mission for quite some time. Consequently, the achievements have been limited while expenses have been substantial.”

    Following his inauguration in January, President Trump enacted an executive order that froze U.S. foreign aid for 90 days.

    This led to severe reductions in various USAID programs, although some exceptions were made for essential humanitarian assistance.

    The aid freeze has left the independent agency, established by Congress in 1961, in a state of shock and disappointment.

    Before the impending closure, USAID handled an annual budget close to $43 billion, representing over 40 percent of global humanitarian aid. Shortly after Trump’s presidency began, most of its staff were placed on administrative leave.

    A memo distributed to USAID employees on Friday detailed plans to cut all positions that are not legally mandated, as reported by multiple U.S. news outlets.

    In the memo, Jeremy Lewin, the acting administrator of the agency, mentioned that the State Department aims to phase out the majority of USAID’s autonomous operations in the near future.