The United States has pledged to maintain funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance during a 90-day pause in foreign aid.
- The United States pledges to maintain funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces an ‘Emergency Humanitarian Waiver’ to ensure continued access to HIV treatment
- The waiver includes assistance for core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, and shelter
The announcement to maintain funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance was made by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Rubio confirmed the approval of an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver” that will ensure continued access to HIV treatment supported by the U.S.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the world’s largest HIV initiative, directly supports over 20 million people living with HIV, making up two-thirds of the global population receiving treatment.
DON’T MISS THIS: Top 10 African countries with the highest number of people living with HIV
According to the waiver approved by Rubio, life-saving humanitarian assistance includes core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs necessary to deliver such assistance.
The waiver explicitly excludes activities involving abortion, family planning conferences, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, transgender surgeries, and other non-life-saving assistance.
Last week, Trump paused development assistance from USAID for 90 days to evaluate alignment with his “America First” policy, raising concerns among aid organizations worldwide that rely on U.S. support.
Reuters reports that following the executive order halting U.S. funding for several health initiatives, contractors and partners working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began receiving notices to cease operations immediately.
The executive order included suspending the delivery of lifesaving drugs for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as medical supplies for newborns in countries benefiting from USAID assistance, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters.
DON’T MISS THIS: Top 5 African countries that receive the most foreign aid from the U.S.
UNAIDS has welcomed Wednesday’s emergency waiver from the United States Secretary of State that will allow the continuation of life-saving HIV treatment funded by the US across 55 countries worldwide.
“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the US Government which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV medication during the assessment of US foreign development assistance,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.
