Vital health programs worldwide are struggling to continue due to frozen funds. A recent ruling from a federal judge temporarily paused the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the main U.S. foreign aid agency. However, many health initiatives are still at a standstill.
In interviews with health workers in Africa and Asia, the challenges are evident. In Kenya, parents can’t get their children tested for tuberculosis. Refugees in Nigeria and Bangladesh lack access to clean drinking water. In South Sudan, a program meant to feed malnourished children is stalled.
Maleket Hailu, who helps those living with HIV in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, shares a heartbreaking story. “People travel 300 kilometers just to find medications at other hospitals. There are none left in their communities,” he explains. His organization relied on funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for medication deliveries. Now, these communities are left without crucial information and resources.
While the State Department claims to have issued over 180 waivers to restart lifesaving operations, many on-the-ground programs remain frozen. This is largely due to issues with USAID’s payment system, which has been inoperative for several weeks. Without access to funds, even approved programs cannot carry out their missions.
Normally, organizations submit requests for funding in small increments. This quick process allows them to continue their essential services. Many of these groups are nonprofits with no alternative funding sources, making the situation even more dire.
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Foreign Aid,United States Politics and Government,Suits and Litigation (Civil),Assets, Frozen,Government Contracts and Procurement,Tests (Medical),United States Agency for International Development,Bangladesh,Ethiopia,Kenya,Nigeria,South Sudan,Tigray (Ethiopia),United States
