On The “Cuts of US Foreign Aid and Its Repercussions” … GOPA-DERD's published interviews by The Independent & Devex
“The Cuts of US Foreign Aid and its Resounding Negative Consequences”, which was the subject of a series of congressional educational meetings conducted by GOPA-DERD in Washington DC a few days ago, is now a top topic among humanitarian workers, occupying a prominent place on the front pages of newspapers and related media.
In this context, the British newspaper “The Independent” published an article entitled:
Trump’s deadline to review US aid cuts has passed – so what happens now?
The newspaper notes that “when Donald Trump re-entered the White House in January, he issued an executive order for a 90-day freeze on foreign aid spending while all programmes were reviewed. Halfway in, 83 per cent of all US Agency for International Development (USAID) programmes had already been cancelled”.
The newspaper continues: in Syria, a USAID-funded programme which had secured a humanitarian waiver is being asked to re-apply during the 30-day extension, “essentially starting again from square one”.
As Ms. Sara Savva, GOPA-DERD Deputy Director-General explained during her meetings in the US Congress, the role of the humanitarian work carried out by GOPA-DERD to support families and refugees in Syria, had been allowed to continue a “small portion” of its life-saving programmes during the original 90-day suspension. But this work is in doubt once again.
The Independent newspaper quotes M. Sara as saying: “After 14 years of war in Syria, the needs are more urgent than ever, and we are anticipating that six community shelters will be shut down soon due to USAID cuts”.
The same topic was addressed by the American platform Devex, a media platform specializing in development affairs, providing information and data on health, humanitarian work, and sustainability.
“How Trump’s first 100 days have meant chaos for US foreign aid”
Under this title, and in the absence of a “recovery plan,” as it put it, the platform confirms that for many, the last 100 days have changed everything — especially for those in countries most affected by conflict, crisis, and disaster.
The platform continues that with the termination of more than 80% of USAID’s programs have been terminated — leaving at least 36 million people without urgent humanitarian support.
Devex talked to “those on the front-line of development” to find out how they had been affected by the cuts.
Sara Savva was quoted as saying: “We were helping people every day, every month. And all of a sudden, it all had to be stopped”. She added “We were shocked because we had no idea what to do — and how to act — overnight.” This reminds me of the moment when the power goes out in the hospital. What happens to the incubators at that moment? What happens to the patients in the intensive care unit? This is exactly what people in Syria are facing today.”
