Yazidis Feel Betrayed as USAid Cuts Leave Communities in Crisis

IQIraq|

The Yazidi community in Iraq is experiencing a profound sense of betrayal as the U.S. government halts crucial aid that once supported them, following the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (IS). During the first Trump administration, significant funding was pledged, benefiting religious minorities, including the Yazidis. However, this support has dwindled under the second Trump administration, according to activists and former USAid employees.

In the Iraqi town of Sinjar, where many Yazidis were killed, essential services, including healthcare and infrastructure projects, have stalled due to the freeze in aid. Mirza Dinnayi, a Yazidi human rights activist, expressed shock over the suspension of USAid, labeling it a critical loss for their communities. The aid freeze has also severely impacted charities like Catholic Relief Services, facing potential layoffs and program shutdowns amounting to half of their $1.5 billion budget.

This shift reflects broader changes in Republican attitudes toward aid, as former supporters of Yazidi rights now align with movements aiming to diminish USAid. Current and former USAid officials lament the loss of vital support networks for the trauma-affected Yazidi people.

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