The suspension of nearly all USAID funding by the Trump administration is shuttering vital humanitarian and anti-gang programs in Colombia’s poorest regions, jeopardizing the implementation of the country’s 2016 peace deal with leftist FARC rebels.
Historically, Colombia received up to $440 million annually through USAID for over 80 programs, making it the largest recipient of U.S. aid in the western hemisphere. Now, the abrupt funding cuts are endangering reintegration initiatives for former rebels, economic projects aimed at employing ex-combatants, and various social programs that have helped curb violence and drug trafficking in conflict-prone areas.
Officials, including Colombia’s former foreign minister and lawmakers, warn that the loss of aid will increase risks of renewed violence, as vulnerable communities may be lured back into criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks. In Choco province, for example, the shutdown of the USAID-funded Youth Resilience program has left thousands of young people without essential mentorship and economic opportunities, potentially reversing progress made under the 2016 peace accord.
The freeze also undermines broader peace efforts, particularly in rural regions where USAID programs played a crucial role in reducing violence and facilitating dialogue between former rebels and the government. With significant portions
The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic...
Senior representatives from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have held talks in Miami to assess progress on the Gaza ceasefire and lay the groundwo...
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred rema...
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has described playing the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil as a “positive responsibility”, as the Atlas Lions prep...
Georgia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, reaching GEL 27.9 billion, according to prelimin...
Nearly half of 1,100 metric tonnes of emergency food rations stored in a U.S. government warehouse in Dubai will be destroyed after reaching their expiry date. The aid remained unused following a freeze on funding introduced during President Donald Trump’s administration.
A USAID official and three business owners pleaded guilty to a 10-year bribery scheme involving at least 14 prime contracts worth over $550 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.
The State Department office that handles refugee issues and works to cut illegal migration will deal with the U.S. response to overseas disasters, a role for which they say it lacks the know-how and personnel.
The U.S. State Department has handed over international disaster response duties to its refugee-focused bureau, sidelining USAID’s seasoned crisis teams.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on Thursday evening to protest against the outgoing government, demanding fair elections and judicial reforms to address what they describe as widespread corruption.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Poland on Thursday following a summit of the European Council in Brussels.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening for an official visit, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment