Trump administration ends some USAID contracts providing lifesaving aid, officials say

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has notified the World Meals Program and different companions that it has terminated some of the last remaining lifesaving humanitarian programs throughout the Center East, a U.S. official and a U.N. official informed The Related Press on Monday.

The initiatives have been being canceled “for the comfort of the U.S. Authorities” at the direction of Jeremy Lewin, a prime lieutenant at Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity whom the Trump administration appointed to supervise and end dismantling the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement, based on a letter despatched to USAID companions and seen by the AP.

About 60 letters canceling contracts have been despatched over the previous week, together with for main initiatives with the World Meals Program, the world’s largest supplier of meals assist, a USAID official stated. An official with the United Nations within the Center East stated WFP obtained termination letters for Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Among the final remaining U.S. funding for key applications in Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan and the southern African nation of Zimbabwe additionally have been affected, together with these offering meals, water, medical care and shelter for individuals displaced by struggle, the USAID official stated.

The Trump administration had pledged to spare these most pressing, lifesaving applications in its reducing of assist and growth applications via the State Division and USAID.

The Trump administration already has canceled thousands of USAID contracts because it dismantles USAID, which it accuses of wastefulness and of advancing liberal causes.

The newly terminated contracts have been amongst about 900 surviving applications that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had notified Congress he meant to protect, the USAID official stated.

There was no instant remark from the State Division.

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Magdy reported from Cairo.