Many of us remember the excitement of providing solar suitcases with medical-quality lights and fetal Doppler monitors for maternity wards without electricity in rural Mozambique. The 50 solar suitcases we shipped to Mozambique provided resources for more adequate prenatal and postnatal infant care, significantly lowered maternal and newborn mortality rates, and greatly improved medical staff morale.
However, massive cuts to international aid by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and several European governments are having devastating impacts on aid organizations worldwide, including Alongside Hope’s collaboration with local partners such as EHALE, a community health organization in Mozambique.
The sudden cuts from USAID are disproportionately affecting people who are already at risk: children and youth living with HIV/AIDS, refugees who no longer see a durable solution, and those experiencing extreme hunger who depend on food and other humanitarian aid.
To maintain as many vital programmes as possible, Alongside Hope is launching an urgent appeal to donors. Your support of the Resilience Fund will allow Alongside Hope to provide partners with additional support for refugees, HIV-related needs, and women recovering from gender-based violence.
These include:
Tanzania
• Families supported by Church World Service who were preparing for a new life in the United States and had already left the Nyarugushu Refugee camp and given away their possessions were forced to return to the camp with nothing, their dreams of resettlement shattered with the suspension of the US Refugee Resettlement Program.
Kenya
• Anglican Development Services in Kenya was forced to quickly scale back school food programs, anti-retrovirals and other wraparound care for children and youth living with HIV/AIDS. The futures of more than 160 case workers are now uncertain
• many children are no longer able to attend school.
• 42 staff at National Council of Churches Kenya who were providing youth mentorship programming and support for school fees have been laid off, affecting 8,000 youth and 8,000 orphans and vulnerable children.
Mozambique
A five-year program with partner EHALE that was improving maternal health services and access to health care for young mothers was forced to shut down.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Plans for a program with the Panzi Foundation that would have brought dignity to women recovering from gender-based violence have been shelved.
Haiti
• Medical services and referrals for community members working with Rayjon Share Care are not being provided due to cuts to hospitals that had been receiving USAID supplies.
How you can help:
• Please pray for our neighbours all over the world whose livelihoods and futures have been made uncertain.
• Contact your Member of Parliament and advocate for increased aid funding.
• Give to Alongside Hope as we respond to increased hunger and needs around the world. You can donate online at alongsidehope.org/give-today or call 1-866-308-7973, or mail your cheque to: Alongside Hope, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ont., M4Y 3G2
For more information:
https://alongsidehope.org/news/cuts-to-international-aid-highlight-the-need-to-keep-up-our-support/
