Trump Administration Announces $93 Million Food Aid

The Trump administration has announced a new initiative to provide $93 million in food aid aimed at addressing malnutrition in twelve African nations, as well as Haiti. This information comes directly from a press briefing by State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott.

Piggott noted that this funding targets approximately one million children who are suffering from malnutrition, and it will cover ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) specifically designed for medical treatment.

The countries slated to benefit from this food aid include Haiti, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Nigeria, Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Kenya, and Chad.

During the press conference, Piggott was questioned about the apparent contradiction between the visa revocation of Haitian migrants in the U.S. and the administration’s food aid efforts aimed at stabilizing the region. He responded that there have indeed been efforts from the administration to promote stability in Haiti, highlighting actions meant to counteract those who contribute to unrest.

When asked about people’s fears regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS), he referenced the coordinated actions from the State Department intended to support stability in Haiti.

This new announcement of foreign nutritional aid arrives on the heels of prior cuts to billions in foreign aid by the Trump administration. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), previously the primary agency for this funding, has now been integrated into the State Department.

The $93 million allocated will be utilized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and is expected to be in effect until June. In addition to supplying ready-to-eat foods, the initiative will also focus on producing or cultivating more such foods domestically, as stated by the State Department.