US partially resumes previously canceled humanitarian aid to some countries

The administration of President Donald Trump has decided to partially resume previously canceled foreign aid programs, in particular, emergency food support in a number of countries. The decision was a response to a wave of criticism within the government, from Congress and international organizations.

This was reported by Reuters, citing sources in the US administration familiar with the details of the process.

According to the agency's interlocutors, the cancellation of humanitarian programs and their subsequent renewal within a few days indicate the "impulsiveness and chaos" of the process of reforming foreign aid. In particular, previously approved cuts have already caused "disruptions in the work of international humanitarian missions."

Acting Deputy Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Jeremy Levin, who previously worked in the Department of Government Efficiency, called for the cancellation of the decision to stop at least six programs in an email to employees.

"Sorry for all this funding volatility. There are many interested parties and we need to better balance these competing interests - this is my mistake and I take responsibility," Levin wrote, quoted by Reuters.

On his initiative, funding was restored for the UN World Food Programme in Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Jordan, Iraq and Ecuador. In addition, four programs for the International Organization for Migration in the Pacific region were restored.

However, US aid to Afghanistan and Yemen was not restored. According to the Department of State’s spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, there are concerns that these funds could indirectly support the Taliban or the pro-Iranian Houthi movement.

"There were several programs in other countries that were not planned to be cut but were mistakenly canceled – they have now been restored," Bruce added.

As a reminder, on April 7, the Trump administration abruptly cut funding for food programs in more than a dozen countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Syria. The total amount of cuts exceeded USD 1.3 billion. According to estimates by human rights activists from Stand Up For Aid, USD 111 million in aid was canceled in Syria alone, and almost USD 170 million in aid in Somalia, including food for children and air logistics.

The UN World Food Programme warned: "If implemented, this could be a death sentence for millions of people on the brink of hunger and starvation."

The cuts and restoration of programs were part of a major reorganization that the Trump administration has been carrying out since the beginning of its second term. Part of this plan is the integration of USAID into the Department of State’s structure, which is causing sharp criticism in Congress.

On Tuesday, April 8, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling the idea "unconstitutional, illegal, unfounded, harmful, and ineffective."

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States is officially canceling 83% of the USAID programs.