The Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid has thrown the global famine response system into disarray, halting food shipments, shuttering relief programs, and cutting off vital early warning systems. Aid groups warn that without action, millions face worsening hunger.
The spending freeze, ordered by President Donald Trump on January 20, is set to last 90 days while his administration reviews foreign aid programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said emergency food assistance could continue, but aid organizations say distribution is stalled, leaving food worth $340 million in limbo.
The impact is immediate. USAID, the U.S. government’s main relief agency, has been shut down, delaying cash assistance in Sudan and Gaza, freezing food stockpiles, and blocking funds for community-run kitchens. Aid workers say volunteer programs feeding people in conflict zones have ground to a halt.
Compounding the crisis, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)—a key U.S.-funded tool tracking global hunger trends—was shut down on January 27, leaving humanitarian agencies without critical data to prevent starvation. Millions of nutrient-rich food packets, designed for malnourished children, are now sitting in warehouses, with manufacturers ordered to pause production.
Aid experts say the U.S. contributed 38% of global humanitarian funding in recent years, making the freeze a seismic shift in international relief efforts. Without USAID and FEWS NET, they warn, global famine response is losing its steering wheel, with vulnerable regions left in the dark.
Humanitarian leaders have called for urgent clarity on exemptions to the aid freeze, fearing that critical food aid could expire before distribution resumes. If the halt continues, analysts say the world’s ability to prevent and respond to famine could collapse, setting back years of progress.
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sg...
Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday, 12 December, that his cancer treatment is expected to be reduced in the coming year, using a televised ad...
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukraini...
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral tr...
Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms coul...
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage whose body is believed to be held in Gaza.
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders, a U.S. official said.
Thailand's leader vowed to continue military operations along the disputed border with Cambodia, as fighter jets launched strikes on Saturday, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the two nations.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday, 12 December, that his cancer treatment is expected to be reduced in the coming year, using a televised address to urge people across the country to take part in cancer screening programmes, officials confirmed.
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders, a U.S. official said.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms could be addressed at a later stage.
Greek farmers blocked the Port of Thessaloniki on Friday (12 December) as part of nationwide protests demanding delayed European Union subsidies and compensation for rising production costs and livestock losses.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment