The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reversed its decision on Tuesday to terminate several crucial humanitarian aid contracts, restoring funding to the World Food Programme (WFP) and other organizations.
This comes after the WFP issued a dire warning that the funding cuts could lead to catastrophic consequences for millions facing severe hunger and starvation.
The cancellation of these programs, affecting 14 countries, was initially reported over the weekend, triggering alarms from international aid organizations.
The WFP had warned that the cuts would undermine efforts to provide emergency food assistance in crisis-hit regions like Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen.
The Trump administration had initially suspended funding, but following intense outcry, USAID reinstated the contracts for vital aid programs, including those focused on food security and healthcare.
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Jeremy Lewin, a senior USAID official, acknowledged the miscommunication and said in an internal email that the cancellations were made in error. “Sorry for all the back and forth on awards.
There are a lot of stakeholders, and we need to do better about balancing these competing interests – that’s my fault and I take responsibility,” Lewin said.
The restoration of funding was celebrated by aid agencies and the international community, with the WFP hailing the decision as a step toward saving lives.
However, the situation remains critical, with several countries, including Afghanistan and Yemen, still facing severe cuts to their humanitarian support.
The administration has expressed concerns that some of the canceled funds were inadvertently benefiting terrorist organizations, including the Taliban and Houthi rebels.
Despite the rollback, humanitarian groups are urging the U.S. government to maintain its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and to collaborate more effectively with international organizations to ensure that aid reaches those in need.
