Author Names 2 USAID Cut Victims After Musk Denies Even 1 Death
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 1
Author Names 2 USAID Cut Victims After Musk Denies Even 1 Death
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 1
Summary
Two deaths in Uganda and Liberia were cited by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof after Elon Musk said USAID cuts had not killed “even a single” child and challenged critics to name one victim.
Kristof identified Jibia, a 10-year-old girl in Uganda who died of malaria after a clinic ran out of $2 bed nets and anti-malaria drugs, saying medical records and health workers tied her death to the cuts.
He also named Yamah Freeman in Liberia, who bled to death during pregnancy after U.S.-provided ambulances reportedly had no fuel following aid cuts under Musk and President Trump.
The exchange grew out of a social-media clash with Representative Ro Khanna, who said Musk had possibly sentenced many children to death; Musk called that claim a lie and threatened to sue.
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USAID’s Dismantling and the 30% Plunge in Global Aid: The Human Cost of America’s Withdrawal
Overview
The Trump administration's 'America first' foreign policy led to the dismantling of USAID, which triggered a profound humanitarian crisis and significant political confrontation worldwide. This policy shift caused the US to abandon aid recipients and alienate treaty allies, resulting in a sharp decline in global humanitarian funding. The loss of USAID's support severely impacted health, nutrition, and education programs, leading to preventable deaths and suffering, especially among children. The crisis also forced a re-evaluation of America's global values and engagement, leaving a void in international aid that other countries are now struggling to fill.