Trump's freeze on US aid rings alarm bells from Thailand to Ukraine

29/1/2025 6:18

Field hospitals in Thai refugee camps, landmine clearance in warzones, and drugs to treat millions suffering from diseases such as HIV are among the programs facing the chop as President Donald Trump contemplates massive cuts to U.S. foreign aid.



Trump last week paused development assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days to assess compatibility with his "America First" policy, setting alarm bells ringing among aid groups around the world that depend on U.S. largesse.



Humanitarian organisations and U.N. agencies say they could face drastic curbs on their ability to distribute food, shelter and healthcare if the freeze becomes permanent.



The U.S. is by far the biggest contributor to global humanitarian aid, supplying an estimated $13.9 billion in 2024, accounting for 42% of all aid tracked by the United Nations.