The dire consequences of US aid cuts are being felt in South Sudan, where clinics are closing and children are dying due to lack of medical care. Save the Children reported that eight people, including five children, died after walking for hours in scorching heat to seek treatment for cholera in Jonglei State. The closures were a result of funding reductions ordered by President Trump’s “America First” policy, which led to the shutdown of health facilities and a transport service that took patients to hospitals. Without access to medical care, experts warn that millions of people could die from malnutrition, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in the future.
The US State Department denied knowledge of the reported deaths and accused South Sudan’s leadership of misusing foreign aid, leading to the suspension of funding. South Sudan, plagued by corruption, relies heavily on humanitarian aid delivered through NGOs. With dwindling contributions from other donors, the country’s humanitarian response is further weakened. Meanwhile, a cholera outbreak is adding to the country’s health crisis, with thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths recorded. The situation has raised concerns about a potential new civil war in the country.
Despite the challenges, organizations like Save the Children continue to work in South Sudan, but their efforts are hampered by lack of resources. As children continue to suffer and die without proper medical care, the international community faces a moral dilemma in responding to the urgent needs in the war-torn nation.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
