

Cruel World – What happens when the West walks away?
Apr 3, 2025
In this discussion, humanitarian experts Jeremy Konyndyk, former USAID official and president of Refugees International, and Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive at ODI Global, unpack the alarming cuts to foreign aid by Western governments. They delve into the historical role of the U.S. in global aid, the shift from philanthropy to a transactional model, and the dire consequences for crisis-affected regions. The conversation highlights the urgent need for a reevaluation of the aid system to prevent long-term instability and address pressing global challenges.
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Foreign Aid Freeze
- The Trump administration's executive order froze all new foreign aid, causing turmoil in the sector.
- This included withholding payments for completed work, creating a financial crisis for aid organizations.
Hidden Consequences
- The impact of aid cuts is not always immediately visible, as organizations try to mitigate the damage.
- However, the consequences, like deaths from halted medical treatments, are already occurring and will worsen over time.
Uganda Ebola Impact
- In Uganda, funding cuts for infection prevention and control measures have hindered the Ebola response.
- This demonstrates the interconnectedness of development aid and emergency response.