The United States has permanently ended foreign assistance through its long-running humanitarian agency, USAID, a move projected to result in the deaths of up to 14 million people globally by 2030.
After 64 years of providing aid to poor and developing nations, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been dissolved. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, future foreign aid will be directed by the State Department and “administered in a way that aligns with the Trump administration and advances American interests.”
The termination of USAID is expected to have devastating consequences, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where the agency’s missions have long focused on health care, food security, and disease prevention. Programs offering free vaccinations against HIV and food assistance are among those affected.
A report published in The Lancet forecasts that the withdrawal of humanitarian support will severely impact health sectors globally, especially in HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment and prevention. The report warns of 14 million deaths between now and 2030, including 4.5 million children under the age of five.
Over the years, USAID has been credited with preventing 91 million deaths, particularly those resulting from HIV/AIDS, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases, the report adds.
- Millions of lives at risk as US ends 64 years of lifesaving aid
- Drying USAid taps should trigger funding model rethink
In Kenya, the effects of the funding halt are already being felt. Healthcare, agriculture, and community programs that relied on USAID are facing major shortfalls, leading to both service disruptions and job losses.
Rubio defended the decision, stating that “while America has funded humanitarian assistance, the recipients have not reciprocated in kind.”
He added that Sub-Saharan African countries, despite receiving $165 billion in aid, did not fully support U.S. interests at the United Nations. Similarly, Middle Eastern and North African countries, which received $89 billion, were said to show preference for China over the United States.
The U.S. government has also accused some NGOs of misusing funds “at the expense of the American taxpayer,” further justifying the withdrawal of funding.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
