Some malaria, TB programme cuts reversed by US, sources say
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On Feb 27, the Trump administration cancelled 90 per cent of contracts funded by the USAid and the US State Department, sending shockwaves across the global aid community.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Some life-saving health projects that had their US funding contracts abruptly terminated last week have received letters reversing that decision, two sources familiar with the projects and one of the groups told Reuters.
The aid recipients said the later decisions were promising, but their work remains in limbo as funding for their projects from the world’s biggest donor had not yet restarted.
On Feb 27, the Trump administration cancelled around 90 per cent of contracts funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAid) and the US State Department, sending shockwaves across the global aid community.
Mr Michael Adekunle Charles, chief executive of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said his organisation’s letter reversing that decision arrived late on March 5.
“I think it’s good news. We need to wait in the coming days to get additional guidance,” he said. “Our priority is saving lives, so the earlier we can get started to continue saving lives the better.”
However, Mr Charles said that would be difficult unless funding started to flow again.
Some US foreign aid contractors and grant recipients will take their fight to get payments restored to a federal judge in the US on March 6.
The US State Department was not immediately available for comment.
Other programmes hosted by the UN and part-funded by the US, including the Stop TB Partnership, also had termination notices reversed this week, two sources close to the groups told Reuters.
Mr Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all US foreign aid
That action, and ensuing stop-work orders halting USAid operations around the world, have jeopardised the delivery of life-saving food and medical aid, throwing global humanitarian relief efforts into chaos
The administration has also placed most USAid staff on leave and eliminated 1,600 jobs.
Subsequent waivers for some of the work added to the confusion, followed by the terminations last week. REUTERS
