Secretary of State Marco Rubio excluded vital humanitarian aid from the decision to suspend funding for overseas programs amounting to $60 billion, reports The Washington Post. In the document obtained by the publication, Rubio defines humanitarian aid as «essential life-saving medicines, medical services, food, shelter, and livelihoods, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative expenses necessary to provide such aid». At the same time, programs including assistance with abortions, inclusivity, transgender transition operations, and other non-life-saving aid will remain frozen.
«Executors of existing life-saving humanitarian aid programs should continue or resume work if it was halted», — states the memorandum published on Tuesday, but it adds that such resumption is temporary, and except for individual cases, new contracts should not be concluded.
Humanitarian organizations and officials still do not understand which specific programs fall under the funding freeze and which do not, and are trying to clarify what is considered vital aid, writes WP. In particular, it is still unknown whether the multi-billion dollar program for the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS in Africa PEPFAR will now receive funding.
Last week, President Donald Trump issued an order declaring a 90-day pause in all foreign aid. Rubio ordered a review to determine that the programs «do not duplicate each other, are effective, and align with President Trump's foreign policy».
A wide range of programs have been affected — from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is involved in evacuating hostages from Gaza and usually receives a quarter of its annual budget from the US for all its activities, to organizations providing aid to the hungry and medical assistance, and programs for mine clearance in conflict zones around the world.