The Trump administration's cuts to USAID have frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in contract payments to aid agencies, forcing them to use their own funds to maintain a fragile ceasefire, the U.S. aid agency said.
These cuts could reverse the small gains that aid workers have made in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza during the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
They could also threaten the fragile peace that has been cemented by the Trump administration.
Much of the aid to Gaza was supposed to be funded by USAID during the ongoing cease-fire, and the Trump administration approved more than $383 million for that purpose on January 31, according to three USAID officials.
However, no payments to partners in the Middle East have been confirmed since then, they noted.
Employees who have experienced multiple layoffs spoke anonymously out of fear of retaliation.
Two senior aid officials have confirmed they have not received promised funds despite spending millions on goods and services.
They said they could not afford to continue their aid efforts indefinitely.
Some organizations have already reported staff cuts and reduced workloads, according to internal USAID information provided to The Associated Press.
This could jeopardize the ceasefire, which requires Hamas to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners and increasing humanitarian aid.
“The United States has made clear commitments to provide assistance under the ceasefire, and there is no way… to fulfill them while the funding freeze continues,” said Jeremy Konyndyke, president of Refugees International and a former USAID official.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
