The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has lost its independence after 63 years, putting millions of people at risk as funding dries up. At the same time, business leaders and officials are meeting in Seville, Spain, for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to try to raise new aid money, according to Action Against Hunger.
Groups like Action Against Hunger report that USAID’s funding cuts are already closing nutrition clinics in places like South Sudan. Denish Ogen Rwot, who leads communications there, says many families don’t realize the full impact yet—they still see USAID logos on supplies and hope the US will step in. But the clinics are shutting down, and the supply of ready-to-use nutrition paste is running out. For malnourished children, this could mean the difference between life and death.
USAID is moving most of its programs to the US State Department, which means $1.4 billion less for emergency nutrition. Action Against Hunger warns that this could lead to a “mass loss of children’s lives.” A recent study in The Lancet says the shutdown could cause 14 million more deaths by 2030.
The aid cut has sparked strong reactions. At a farewell video call, former US presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush criticized the decision. Obama called it a “colossal mistake.”
While USAID pulls back, global leaders in Seville are scrambling to fill the gap. Aid groups and suppliers like Edesia say the world must act fast to keep life-saving programs running for the people who need them most.
