The United Nations World Food Program decided to close its southern Africa office after Trump cut money for helping other countries. Tomson Phiri told The Associated Press through an email that they already planned to make changes starting in 2023. However, money problems forced them to rush these changes instead of taking their time with the process as they initially wanted.
The food agency will consolidate its work in southern and East Africa at one main office in Nairobi, Kenya, and completely eliminate its Johannesburg office. Phiri made it clear that people would still receive food help despite these office changes. He stated that they remain strongly focused on helping hungry people and want to work as effectively as possible with the resources they have left.
The WFP didn't tell anyone exactly how much money disappeared from USAID, but last year the United States gave them $4.4 billion. This amount makes up half their yearly budget and beats Germany, the next biggest giver, by more than four times. Trump's team stopped 90% of USAID's agreements because they said these projects didn't help America directly. This action blocked $60 billion that would have been paid for helping people around the world.
These money cuts happened right when southern Africa faced its worst dry spell in decades. Crops failed, and 27 million people might go hungry, according to the WFP's count. The WFP asked for $147 million in donations before Trump even started cutting American help. The organization brings food to over 150 million people across 120 countries. It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and Americans have run the group since 1992, including current boss Cindy McCain, whose husband was Senator John McCain.
Most United Nations groups haven't talked much about exactly how the American money cuts hurt them. The International Organization for Migration reportedly cut 3,000 jobs connected to moving people to America. The family planning group UNFPA expects many programs will suffer. Several UN aid groups say they still need time to understand what happens next. They feel unsure whether some projects might qualify for special passes that would let American money keep flowing their way.
The food agency will consolidate its work in southern and East Africa at one main office in Nairobi, Kenya, and completely eliminate its Johannesburg office. Phiri made it clear that people would still receive food help despite these office changes. He stated that they remain strongly focused on helping hungry people and want to work as effectively as possible with the resources they have left.
The WFP didn't tell anyone exactly how much money disappeared from USAID, but last year the United States gave them $4.4 billion. This amount makes up half their yearly budget and beats Germany, the next biggest giver, by more than four times. Trump's team stopped 90% of USAID's agreements because they said these projects didn't help America directly. This action blocked $60 billion that would have been paid for helping people around the world.
These money cuts happened right when southern Africa faced its worst dry spell in decades. Crops failed, and 27 million people might go hungry, according to the WFP's count. The WFP asked for $147 million in donations before Trump even started cutting American help. The organization brings food to over 150 million people across 120 countries. It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and Americans have run the group since 1992, including current boss Cindy McCain, whose husband was Senator John McCain.
Most United Nations groups haven't talked much about exactly how the American money cuts hurt them. The International Organization for Migration reportedly cut 3,000 jobs connected to moving people to America. The family planning group UNFPA expects many programs will suffer. Several UN aid groups say they still need time to understand what happens next. They feel unsure whether some projects might qualify for special passes that would let American money keep flowing their way.
