Afghanistan

U.S. President Donald Trump&& s administration is ending most, if not all, remaining U.S. aid for Afghanistan and Yemen, help sources said on Monday, in what the U.N. World Food Programme stated could &be & a death sentence & for millions, Reuters reported. The cuts were among many aid programs ended for more than a lots ... U.S. President Donald Trump&& s administration is ending most, if not all, remaining U.S. help for Afghanistan and Yemen, help sources said on Monday, in what the U.N. World Food Programme stated might be && a death sentence & for millions, Reuters reported.The cuts were amongst many aid programs ended for more than a dozen nations &-- consisting of Somalia and Syria &-- over the weekend by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Sarah Charles, a previous head of USAID&& s humanitarian affairs bureau, and nine sources, consisting of six present U.S. officials associated with humanitarian help who spoke on condition of anonymity.The overall amount of help cut was over $1.3 billion, according figures offered by Stand Up For Aid, a grassroots advocacy group. That consists of $562 million for Afghanistan, $107 million for Yemen, $170 million for Somalia, $237 million for Syria and $12 million for Gaza.The U.N. World Food Programme alerted that the termination of U.S. funding for emergency food assistance && might amount to a death sentence for millions of individuals facing extreme hunger and starvation,& & and stated it touched with the Trump administration for more information.In a Post on X, WFP chief Cindy McCain said financing cuts && will deepen appetite, fuel instability, and make the world far less safe.&& A State Department representative referred Reuters to the White House when asked about the program terminations. The White House did not instantly respond to a request for remark. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the U.N. was trying to get information on the canceled contracts.The cuts are the most recent piece of the Trump administration&& s drive to dismantle USAID, the main U.S. humanitarian help firm. His administration has canceled billions of dollars in life-saving programs considering that the Republican president began his second term on January 20. Much of the terminated programs had actually been granted waivers by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio from cuts to foreign help programs made by billionaire Elon Musk&& s Department of Government Efficiency because February, three of the sources said.The U.S. has actually been the biggest help donor to Islamic Emirate-ruled Afghanistan and to Yemen, most of which is managed by Islamist militants of the Iran-backed Houthi motion. Both countries have actually suffered years of devastating war.&& Every remaining USAID award for Afghanistan was terminated,& & said one source. The officials said the canceled funds consisted of assistance for a U.N. agency that assists women and women, the WFP and a minimum of 6 non-governmental organizations.Assistance to Afghans offered by the State Department&& s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration also was terminated, 5 sources said.The terminations will worsen the world&& s humanitarian crises, putting millions of desperate individuals at threat of starvation, and could fuel new waves of unlawful immigration, according to numerous sources and experts.&& Despite continued guarantees that lifesaving programs would be secured throughout the Trump Administration&& s & lsquo; review & of foreign support, DOGE invested the weekend canceling help that the administration previously told Congress would be retained,& & said Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.She stated the end of food assistance would && have terrible effects & and she looked forward to hearing more from Rubio.Among the cuts this weekend were $169.8 million for the WFP in Somalia, covering food help, nutrition for malnourished babies and kids and humanitarian air support. In Syria, $111 million was cut from WFP food assistance.Nearly 23 million people, more than half of whom are kids, need assistance in Afghanistan, according to the U.N. The WFP says it provided emergency situation food and cash to nearly 12 million Afghans in 2015, focusing on the help for women and ladies dealing with && extreme cravings. & & The Afghan awards were very carefully targeted at the most life-saving activities,& & stated Charles, who left USAID in January 2024. && This will be ravaging to the most susceptible in Afghanistan who are & hellip; under the thumb of the Taliban (IEA).&& The U.N. states the U.S. has actually up until now given $206 million in support for Afghanistan this year. Last year, it was the largest donor &-- offering $736 million &-- to the nation wrecked by decades of war that ended with the Islamic Emirate taking power as the U.S. withdrew its last soldiers in August 2021. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on sexual and reproductive health, was first told at the end of February that a $24 million two-year grant for operate in Afghanistan had actually been terminated. At the exact same time, a $17 million two-year grant for operate in Syria was also terminated.Both terminations were rescinded by Washington within days. On Friday, both grants were once again terminated, UNFPA said.The cutoff of help to Afghanistan likewise could release brand-new economic instability as it will impact deliveries of dollars to a personal bank in Kabul for exchange into afghanis, the national currency, by the United Nations to fund aid operations.The cuts may likewise stir conditions that prompt individuals to sign up with extremist groups like Islamic State&& s Afghanistan-based branch, called ISIS-K, U.S. officials said.Reuters also evaluated the text of a USAID letter notifying a concealed Yemen aid specialist that the termination was bought by Jeremy Lewin, an acting USAID assistant administrator and a DOGE operative managing the taking apart of USAID, consisting of the termination of thousands of workers.&& The decision to end this private award,& & the letter stated, && is pursuant to a review and determination that the award is irregular with the Administration&& s concerns. & According to U.N. information, more than 19 countless Yemen&& s 35 million individuals are in need of aid, with some 17 million && food insecure. & The U.S., which has provided $768 million in 2015 according to the U.N., has actually supplied so far this year $15 million in support to Yemen.The post Trump administration food aid cuts put millions at risk, help sources say initially appeared on TINS News.

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Published: 08 April 2025

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