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Freeze of US foreign aid disrupts refugee lives
The suspension of all foreign aid ordered by the US Government on 24 January 2025 has disrupted life-saving support to refugees and other forcibly displaced people living in vulnerable situations almost overnight. The funding freeze required work to stop immediately, affecting JRS’s operations in nine countries across the world.
“I had just mobilised to meet new arrivals at the Doro reception centre to conduct Psychological First Aid and psychoeducation sessions when I received the instruction to halt our activities,” said Elizabeth Nyapito. She serves as a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer with JRS in Maban, South Sudan. “Those waiting for our support were left stranded, filled with questions, as they knew that JRS had always been their reliable lifeline within the camp.”
Through funding from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), JRS accompanies people on the margins in Chad, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, South Africa, South Sudan, Thailand and Uganda. Now, their lives are at risk.
The funding freeze will prevent displaced children from going to school, threaten the future of young refugees whose skill-development programmes have been suspended and place undue stress on women who can no longer access psychosocial support.
The potential impact is huge, says the JRS Iraq Country Director: “Many communities remain in dire need due to the aftermath of ISIS attacks, limited government support, and reduced humanitarian assistance. This abrupt funding halt could exacerbate vulnerabilities, including the risk of falling deeper into poverty, child labour, isolation, mental health deterioration, and a [renewed need to] migrate.”
As we respond to this new reality, one thing is clear: “We will continue to stand in solidarity with our displaced brothers and sisters. Together with our incredibly dedicated staff around the world, we will do everything in our power to sustain the programmes affected,” in the words of JRS International Director, Michael Schopf SJ.
Suspending these services will have wide-ranging consequences, for those we serve and for humanity as a whole.