The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), one of the largest humanitarian organizations globally, stated that it was “compelled” to halt its aid efforts in nearly 20 countries as a consequence of the aid freeze implemented by President Donald Trump.
The NRC remarked in a statement that “for the first time in our history, (we) are obligated to suspend ongoing and urgent humanitarian assistance for hundreds of thousands of individuals across nearly 20 countries grappling with conflicts, disasters, and displacement”.
This announcement follows strong criticism from the global charity wing of the Roman Catholic Church, which condemned the cuts, claiming that Mr. Trump’s proposal to terminate funding for relief organization USAID will have a “catastrophic” effect in developing nations.
“The ruthless and disorderly manner in which this heartless decision is being executed jeopardizes the lives and dignity of millions,” Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-affiliated confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development, and social services organizations operating in over 200 countries, expressed in a statement.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) serves as Washington’s primary agency for humanitarian assistance.
It has been a prime target of a government reduction initiative led by billionaire and Trump associate Elon Musk since the Republican president took office on January 20.
The Trump administration announced on Friday that it would retain 611 essential employees at the agency, out of a total of more than 10,000 globally, although a federal judge has temporarily intervened to block some of the layoffs.
Last month, the US State Department issued a “stop-work” directive on all current foreign assistance programs.
During the 2023 fiscal year, the United States allocated $72 billion in global aid, partially through USAID.
In its statement, Caritas warned that the cuts would “result in the deaths of millions and consign hundreds of millions more to lives of degrading poverty”. The organization stated the reductions would force them to “completely reevaluate whom we can continue to assist and how.”
Additional Catholic charity organizations are also reportedly reviewing their international aid initiatives.
US-based Catholic Relief Services, employing about 5,000 individuals, informed its staff last week to expect layoffs due to the US administration’s cuts to their foreign aid allocations.
The organization operates with a budget of $1.5 billion, approximately half of which is sourced from USAID.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has also laid off 50 employees at its national office in Washington, citing reductions in federal grants for migration and refugee resettlement efforts.
Pope Francis has not explicitly commented on the aid reductions, but he has been vocally critical of some of Mr. Trump’s initiatives, including plans to deport millions of migrants, which he labeled a “disgrace”.
