Thu Apr 10 07:47:40 UTC 2025: ## US Reverses Food Aid Cuts, But Afghanistan and Yemen Remain Excluded

**Cairo, April 10, 2025** – The Trump administration has partially reversed sweeping cuts to emergency food aid, restoring funding to several nations but notably excluding Afghanistan and Yemen. The initial cuts, implemented under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, had sparked widespread concern over the potential starvation of millions.

The reversal, announced on April 9th, follows intense lobbying by UN officials and media reports highlighting the devastating consequences of the cuts. While funding has been reinstated for programs in countries including Somalia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Ecuador, the fate of aid in six other countries remains unclear.

The decision to maintain the cuts in Afghanistan and Yemen, two countries grappling with prolonged conflict and widespread poverty, has drawn sharp criticism. According to a World Food Programme (WFP) assessment, the cuts will leave 2 million Afghans without food assistance, and over 650,000 malnourished children, mothers, and pregnant women will lose crucial nutritional support. In Yemen, halting aid carries significant political and security risks, potentially exacerbating instability.

The US had previously been the largest donor to the WFP, contributing $4.5 billion in 2024. The Trump administration, while citing concerns about waste and the promotion of liberal causes within USAID, has been accused of jeopardizing the lives of millions through its actions. Experts warn that the damage inflicted by these cuts could have long-lasting, devastating consequences. The situation underscores the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and Yemen, exacerbated by years of conflict and worsened by the abrupt reduction in critical US aid.

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