[Source/Observer Network, Wang Yi] For today's United States, changing policies from morning to evening and contradicting previous statements in the same day seems to have become commonplace. After US media reported on July 7th that the US government had stopped providing emergency food aid to 14 countries through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the US State Department announced on July 8th that some of the mistakenly terminated assistance programs have been restored.

On July 9th, Reuters commented that the swift reversal of decisions made just a few days ago has led to a series of cuts, restorations, and further cuts in humanitarian aid projects by the Trump administration, disrupting international humanitarian assistance.

US State Department spokesperson Tami Brooks told reporters on July 8th that some foreign aid projects that should not have been cut were mistakenly canceled, but these measures have now been revoked, and the US has resumed aid.

However, AP reported on July 9th that Brooks did not explain why some projects were mistakenly canceled, and she currently does not know which specific countries' food aid funds the US has restored. The WFP did not immediately reply to AP's request for comment.

Six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that at least six recent US foreign food aid projects were restored on July 8th.

Five sources familiar with the matter said that members of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) and Acting Deputy Administrator of USAID Jeremy Lewin sent an internal email requesting the restoration of aid to WFP in Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Jordan, Iraq, and Ecuador. According to two sources familiar with the matter, the US government also restored four aid programs distributed by the International Organization for Migration in the Pacific region.

In an internal email seen by Reuters on July 8th, Lewin admitted, "I deeply apologize for the repeated aid reversals," and stated, "There are many stakeholders, and we need to better balance these competing interests – this is my mistake, and I take full responsibility."

Afghan children are eating cookies provided by the World Food Programme. World Food Programme

However, Reuters pointed out that the US has not restored aid to Afghanistan under Taliban control or to Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels. On July 8th, Brooks claimed that the US was concerned that the funds provided by WFP to these two countries might benefit the Taliban and the Houthis.

On July 7th, AP cited WFP officials and relevant individuals as saying that the Trump administration had stopped funding for WFP's emergency projects, which are crucial for the people in 14 countries including Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen, who are facing hunger due to deep-seated conflicts and urgently need food aid.

Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that pressured by internal government and congressional demands, the Trump administration decided to restore part of the aid.

After US media reported that the US government had terminated the aid, the WFP expressed serious concerns about the incident the same day. The organization stated on social media that if the decision were implemented, millions of people facing extreme hunger and on the brink of famine would face life-threatening situations. "This could amount to a death sentence for these people."

The World Food Programme distributes food to the Syrian people. World Food Programme

Humanitarian aid organizations stated that the termination of WFP's emergency food aid threatens some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, many of whom rely on such food aid. The US and other donor countries have long believed that alleviating humanitarian crises by curbing large-scale migration, conflict, and extremism aligns with their strategic interests, as resource competition leads to these consequences. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of WFP, criticized the US termination of aid, stating it undermines global stability.

AP reported that despite Trump and Musk dissolving USAID and canceling thousands of its overseas aid and development projects, Secretary of State Rubio and other US government officials promised exemptions for life-saving aid reductions such as emergency food aid.

The report stated that last month, Rubio informed Congress and the courts that the cuts to USAID projects had ended, with approximately 1000 global projects retained and over 5000 others canceled. The latest cuts affected the last few humanitarian projects operated by USAID.

Reuters reported that since Trump began his second term on January 20th, the US government has canceled billions of dollars in foreign aid, with officials criticizing Trump's reform plans as chaotic and disordered.

Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to Rubio last week regarding the State Department's restructuring plan, including the dissolution of USAID, strongly criticizing the Trump administration's actions as unconstitutional, illegal, unreasonable, highly destructive, and inefficient.

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491186449719558710/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your opinions by voting "upvote" or "downvote" below.