The United States once championed humanitarian aid and global development. Now, abrupt funding cuts and withdrawals by USAID are reshaping the aid landscape — and the fallout is stark.
Costing human lives
Medical journal The Lancet warns that ending USAID programs has left 79 million people without support. If cuts persist, up to 14 million more could die by 2030, including 4.5 million preschoolers. Brooke Nichols at Boston University reports that by June 26, stalled funding has already led to over 332,000 deaths worldwide — more than 224,000 of them children. Thousands enrolled in USAID-backed medical trials are stranded with experimental treatments, despite promises of "waivers for lifesaving humanitarian programs."
Sabotaging global health efforts
A leaked USAID memo and policy shifts away from the World Health Organization are crippling disease-ending campaigns. Experts warn a halt to polio eradication could spark 200,000 new paralytic cases annually, while malaria deaths could rise by 71,000–166,000 a year. Tuberculosis infections may surge 28–32 percent without continued support.
These ripple effects highlight the real-world impact of policy changes: beyond budgets and politics, they determine life or death for millions. As debates continue in Washington, young global citizens, entrepreneurs, activists and travelers around the world are watching — and feeling the consequences.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
