U.S. Foreign Aid Freeze Faces Global Backlash

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The recent executive order by President Donald Trump to freeze U.S. foreign aid funding for 90 days has raised alarms among humanitarian organizations and health experts worldwide. Clinics and services that rely on American funding, particularly those addressing HIV treatment and prevention, are experiencing immediate disruptions.

Highlighted concerns come from health facilities in Uganda, where providers are scrambling to source HIV medications, while aid workers in refugee camps in Bangladesh worry about the potential crumbling of infrastructure supporting displaced populations. The pause in funding affects programs under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), which provides antiretroviral treatments to approximately 20 million individuals globally.

Experts warn that this suspension could lead to severe health risks, with lives put at stake. Beatriz Grinsztejn, president of the International AIDS Society, stated that stopping Pepfar could trigger a resurgence of HIV cases. Brian Aliganyira, from a health clinic serving the LGBT+ community in Uganda, described the situation as chaotic, with efforts underway to secure vital supplies.

The U.S. is the largest donor of foreign aid, contributing $72 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. While some military and emergency food assistance are exempt from the freeze, the abrupt halt of ongoing projects has caught many organizations off guard. As reported, essential services in Ukraine, where mobile health units serve civilians near conflict zones, are also jeopardized by the order.

Aid organizations have expressed deep concerns about the potential long-term impacts on global health initiatives, emergency responses, and refugee support programs. The uncertainty surrounding the timeline for resuming funding has left providers and beneficiaries alike in a precarious position, with experts calling for urgency in addressing the fallout of this decision.

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