The USAID Fire Sale
15 days ago
- #humanitarian aid
- #USAID
- #government shutdown
- USAID is holding a massive fire sale of equipment like mosquito nets, water towers, and defibrillators due to project cancellations.
- Normally, leftover goods are distributed to other projects or local partners, but this year's process is chaotic and unguided.
- Some items are being donated to local NGOs or governments, but many lack the resources to utilize them effectively.
- Auctions are being held in multiple countries, raising concerns about financial losses and national security risks.
- Some equipment is being abandoned or destroyed, including food, medical supplies, and contraceptives, at significant taxpayer expense.
- The shutdown of USAID projects has left many initiatives half-finished, with unclear fates for millions in aid.
- The Trump administration's handling of the shutdown has been criticized for inefficiency and lack of oversight.
- The withdrawal of U.S. humanitarian aid could lead to over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to a Lancet study.