Recent reports indicate that significant cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have led to approximately 300,000 deaths globally, with over 200,000 of them being children. These figures stem from a model developed by Dr. Brooke Nichols, an infectious disease expert at Boston University, who attributes the surge in deaths to the abrupt cessation of critical aid programs .
The reductions, exceeding 80% of USAID’s $42 billion budget in 2023, were implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseen by Elon Musk under the Trump administration. This move disrupted essential programs targeting HIV/AIDS, malaria, malnutrition, and access to clean water and food aid. Notably, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was among the suspended initiatives .
In Somalia, the impact has been particularly severe. The dismantling of USAID, which previously provided 65% of Somalia’s foreign aid, has forced organizations like Save the Children to close nutrition centers, endangering the lives of 55,000 children. Health workers report a significant increase in severely malnourished patients, with over 500 children admitted to Banadir Hospital between April and May .
Despite some exemptions announced for life-saving humanitarian programs, many aid efforts remain stalled. Critics, including public health experts and international figures like Bill Gates, have condemned the cuts. Gates accused Musk of indirectly causing the deaths of impoverished children by defunding vital global aid programs .
it is imperative that you fight for the restoration of critical assistance to prevent further preventable deaths.
300,000 deaths that were preventable. The blood is on your hands.
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