By: Alana Cameron (Results Fellow)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administers foreign aid and development assistance for civilians. Unsurprisingly, this program has widespread influence and is extremely relevant in the international development world. President Trump’s actions have led to many freezes and/or cuts of funding. To name just a hand-full, HIV/AIDS treatment for 20 million people across Africa has been halted, 35 clinics supporting sexual and reproductive health have been closed in Malawi, 1700 health workers in Afghanistan will lose their jobs, and $1.9 billion total in food aid was cut for multiple countries experiencing food crises. The list goes on, but the truth is a list only portrays so much. While these freezes and cuts will naturally horrify many people, the actual effects on real human beings living them, is truly hard to perceive and understand. The best way for Canadians to respond is to call on our government to sustain and increase the International Assistance Envelope, Canada’s main funding body for international development, that will work to solidify ongoing gaps in immunization, nutrition and education worldwide.
Alana J. Cameron from Toronto, Ontario
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