President Trump has implemented a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid, raising concerns beyond the implications for the Ukraine war. Many countries that the U.S. has been assisting are now facing significant challenges, particularly Haiti. There, a U.N.-backed mission aimed at combating gang violence in the capital was impacted. While the mission relies mainly on volunteer assistance, support from the U.S. and Kenya has been crucial. With the aid freeze, $13.3 million in funds is now unavailable, threatening the effectiveness of forces on the ground. Gangs already control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince, and without the necessary funding, the situation could deteriorate further.
Additionally, the aid freeze affects humanitarian efforts. U.S. support for health and social programs, including child care, food assistance, and medical treatments, has all come to a halt, jeopardizing vital initiatives. Some argue this might push Haiti’s government to take more responsibility, but given the country's systemic instability, international support remains essential. This crisis highlights the dangers of heavy reliance on U.S. aid and raises discussions on sustainable development and alternative global partnerships.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has proposed a waiver for life-saving programs, but there is confusion regarding qualifications for exemptions from the stop-work orders. This situation exemplifies the dependence some countries have on foreign aid. While U.S. assistance has been critical in Haiti, experts argue that the country must focus on governance reforms and economic self-sufficiency to reduce reliance on external support.
I believe that some countries do need foreign aid to help combat national problems; however, the issue arises when they become dependent on that aid. The moment the aid is withdrawn, the country is left struggling. I think more stable nations should establish guidelines to provide aid through structured programs for struggling nations. However, they cannot take the lead on these efforts; countries must also take action alongside this aid to start building a stable foundation. This way, when the aid is no longer available, they are not left vulnerable. Haiti is a prime example: its long-term stability requires both internal reforms and diversified international support. We must learn to approach these situations differently to prevent countries from becoming reliant on foreign aid.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/haiti-un-us-halt-aid-trump-e32763c0446b268b421f3b409c4dc147
2 comments:
Having lived in America all my life, I honestly don't hear a lot about the aid that goes out to other counties. I feel like we only ever talk about where our money should go in our own system that we completely forget about the fact that there are people all around the world who have it way worse than us. I think implementing a form of aid that would help build sustainable prospects for countries so that they didn't rely on our help would be the most practical approach, but that is probably easier said than done.
The effect of no foreign aid coming from the United States is alarming. When discussing foreign aid, the US is the largest donor of aid but ranks lower than the 20th in terms of generosity of funding; losing the largest funder of foreign aid could have devastating consequences for poor nations, and it is very disappointing to see such a wealthy nation as the US. Especially when less wealthy countries make larger efforts to contribute to efforts such as poverty, hunger, and inequalities.
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