US aid freeze hits Czechia, threatening humanitarian and human rights efforts
Trump's suspension of foreign aid forces Czech NGOs to halt aid programs, cutting support for refugees, journalists, and human rights activists worldwide.
Written byČTKPublished on 30.01.2025 07:49:00(updated on 30.01.2025)
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People in Need supporting flood victims in Krnov, Jeseník and other villages in northern Moravia. Photo: Tereza Hronov
The U.S. decision to suspend foreign aid funding will affect Czech humanitarian organization People in Need, which relies on U.S. government funds for about a quarter of its budget, iROZHLAS.cz reported Monday.
The suspension, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump on his first day in office, halts all foreign aid for 90 days while its effectiveness and alignment with U.S. foreign policy are reviewed. Organizations received notifications from the U.S. State Department instructing them to stop work on U.S.-funded programs.
"We are actively addressing the situation, but the extent of the impact is difficult to estimate at this time," said Tomas Urban of People in Need. "All U.S. government contractors received notification of the three-month suspension, affecting programs under valid contracts. In most cases, humanitarian aid has not been fully terminated."
People in Need, one of the largest Czech humanitarian organizations, operates in over 40 countries and had a budget of approximately CZK 6.1 billion (USD 267 million) in 2023. The suspended funds support critical programs such as food aid and healthcare access.
Beyond humanitarian aid, the cuts also affect projects promoting human rights. "Given the key role the U.S. has long played in this area, many human rights activists and independent journalists facing persecution may now lose assistance, even in life-threatening situations," Urban warned.
Other Czech organizations are also affected. The Women in Media Association will lose a USD 4,000 grant from the U.S. Embassy for journalist education programs. The Women's Educational Institute Brno, which supports Ukrainian women, and the Kalyna Community Centre in Pardubice, which aids the Ukrainian minority, have also lost funding.
The full impact of the funding freeze remains uncertain as NGOs seek possible exemptions to continue providing aid.