The administration of President Donald Trump plans to cut off funding for Gavi, a global organisation that procures vaccines for children in poor countries, and to significantly reduce efforts to combat malaria. This follows from a document of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the content of which was published by Reuters.
Nevertheless, the government will continue to provide grants for HIV and tuberculosis medicines, as well as humanitarian aid for regions affected by armed conflict and natural disasters.
Sharp cuts in international aid: what we know
According to the New York Times, the 281-page USAID document lists 898 humanitarian programmes that will continue to operate, with a budget of $78 billion. At the same time, $76 billion in international aid is planned for the full shutdown, which is in line with the Trump administration’s “America First” policy.
The cuts have already caused chaos and criticism in the international community. Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, Washington has cut 80% of development funding, leading to a sharp drop in contracts.
Gavi response: funding cuts put millions of lives at risk
Gavi, which has received significant support from the US, said US funding was “vital” to its operations.
“With the support of the United States, we could save more than 8 million lives in the next five years and give millions of children a chance at a healthy and promising future,” Gavi said in a post on the X platform.
