Trump administration pledges $1.8 billion more for UN humanitarian aid

"The Trump administration on Thursday announced $1.8 billion in additional funding for U.N. humanitarian aid, saying the money will be earmarked for life-saving aid to victims of natural disasters, famine and people who are truly in critical need. The money will be allocated over the coming year and adds to the $2 billion that the Trump administration pledged in December. Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said at a press conference that the new funding is just the latest step."

"The money is a fraction of what the U.S. has contributed in the past but reflects what President Donald Trump's administration believes is still a generous amount that will maintain America's status as the world's largest humanitarian donor. The Trump administration has cut billions in U.S. foreign aid, prompting U.N. agencies to slash spending, aid projects and thousands of jobs. Other traditional U.N. donors like Britain, France, Germany and Japan also have reduced aid allocations."

"U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called his agency overstretched, underresourced and literally under attack and"

The Trump administration announced $1.8 billion in additional funding for U.N. humanitarian aid, earmarked for life-saving assistance to victims of natural disasters, famine, and people in critical need. The funding will be allocated over the coming year and adds to $2 billion pledged in December. Mike Waltz said the new funding is a further step and described it as generous relative to what the administration believes the U.S. should provide. The administration has also cut billions in U.S. foreign aid, leading U.N. agencies to slash spending, aid projects, and thousands of jobs. Other major donor countries have reduced aid allocations. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said the agency is overstretched, underresourced, and under attack.

Read at www.independent.co.uk