Articles You May Have Missed 8 to 14 February 2025

 

Cuts in US foreign assistance hit programmes in many countries, resulting in layoffs of NGO workers international and local, disputes over the reasons behind M23's capture of Goma, US hits ICC and top prosecutor with sanctions, intensified Isreali raids in West Bank lead to widespread displacement, deaths and injuries, UN halts operations in Houthi controled areas following arrests of more UN staff. 

Afghanistan

President Trump’s executive order halting U.S. aid has had a severe impact on Afghanistan, forcing dozens of NGOs to shut down and disrupting essential services in health, media, and humanitarian support. The sudden funding freeze has worsened economic instability, deepened poverty, and led to mass layoffs. Despite a waiver for lifesaving aid, bureaucratic confusion has stalled relief efforts. The Taliban government has remained largely silent, while concerns grow that the aid cut will push Afghanistan further into crisis, benefiting China’s influence and increasing regional instability.  Shared by Niloufar Pourzand, (Afghanistan Analysts Network, "Stop Work! Aid and the Afghanistan economy.")

Canada

“This pause is already having catastrophic consequences on communities around the world,” said Kate Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of Cooperation Canada. “Food crises are worsening, health services are vanishing, and entire communities – many of them women and children – are being left without protection. These cuts are costing lives. They are also undermining the global rules-based order that Canada has long championed,” Higgins, said.  (Cooperation Canada, "Cooperation Canada Responds to the US Pause on Foreign Assistance")

Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) plans to lay off around 2,000 staff due to President Trump’s suspension of U.S. aid funding, affecting a quarter of its workforce. The cuts reflect a broader crisis in the humanitarian sector, with major organizations like NRC, Catholic Relief Services, and UN agencies also suspending programs and reducing staff. A U.S. waiver exempts some aid activities, but organizations face delays and uncertainty in securing funding, forcing many to proceed cautiously with program cuts. Shared by Niloufar Pourzand (TNH, "Danish Refugee Council announces emergency termination of staff")

Eastern DRC

The conflict in eastern DRC, particularly the M23 insurgency, is often mistakenly framed as driven solely by the exploitation of mineral resources. This "conflict minerals" narrative, rooted in colonial perspectives and white saviorism, oversimplifies the complex geopolitical, historical, and security dynamics at play. While minerals do contribute to the region's economy and conflict, the war is primarily fueled by deeper issues such as political ambitions, regional power struggles, and identity conflicts. Western policies aimed at restricting "conflict minerals" have often backfired, harming local miners while failing to bring peace. A more nuanced understanding is essential for effective solutions. Shared by Niloufar Pourzand (TNH, "Why conflict mineral narratives fall short")

Humanitarians

The U.S. aid freeze has left humanitarian workers fearful and silenced, struggling to explain sudden program shutdowns to vulnerable communities. Many feel betrayed, as aid once promised for years has been abruptly cut. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies push misleading narratives to justify dismantling aid, leveraging repetition and digital platforms to shape public perception. Humanitarians must reclaim the narrative, shifting focus from job losses to the direct impact on displaced and disaster-affected communities who now face even greater hardship. Shared by Niloufar Pourzand (TNH, "What story will humanitarians tell in a Trump world?") 

ICC

Statement by Amnesty International The U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), imposed by President Trump, undermine international justice and signal impunity for Israel’s actions, according to Amnesty International. Secretary General Agnès Callamard condemned the move as vindictive and damaging to global accountability efforts. The sanctions threaten the ICC’s independence, embolden perpetrators of atrocities, and harm victims seeking justice worldwide. Amnesty urges governments to counteract these measures and protect the Court’s role in addressing crimes in Palestine, Ukraine, Venezuela, and beyond. Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand (Amnesty Intl, "Sanctions against the ICC betray international justice system")

Karim Khan, was added Thursday to Washington’s list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.” Those on the list are barred from doing business with Americans and face restrictions on entry to the U.S.(AP News, "US hits ICC top prosecutor with sanctions")

IOM

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has laid off 3,000 employees due to a funding freeze on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which has been suspended under the Trump administration. The cuts, impacting IOM staff working on refugee resettlement, are a direct result of halted U.S. funding and the suspension of the program. IOM's Director General, Amy Pope, acknowledged the severity of the situation and warned that further job cuts may follow. The freeze has significantly disrupted IOM's operations and planning, and many staff members were notified of their termination effective March 6, 2025. (DEVEX, "IOM sends out 3,000 'pink slips'")

The UN’s migration agency (IOM) has quietly removed references to DEI, gender-based violence, and reproductive rights from its website, reportedly to avoid U.S. budget cuts under the Trump administration. The U.S. has frozen foreign aid funding, particularly targeting progressive programs, forcing IOM to adjust its messaging. While the agency claims the website update is part of a broader review, the move highlights growing political pressure on UN agencies to align with U.S. policy shifts. (DEVEX, "IOM expunges website of DEI catchphrases")

Iraq

Iraq is set to release its first national census in decades without categorizing people by religion, ethnicity, or tribe, marking a shift towards national unity. The data aims to guide governance and resource distribution rather than reinforce sectarian divides. After decades of conflict fueled by identity politics, Iraqis—especially younger generations—are embracing civic ideals over sectarian labels. This move signals a maturing political outlook focused on stability and equal citizenship. (CSM, "NIraq will release first census without listing sect or ethnicity") 

USA

A lawsuit filed on February 11, 2025, challenges the Trump administration's foreign aid freeze and stop-work orders, which have devastated organizations implementing USAID programs globally. These contractors and NGOs, responsible for humanitarian and development aid, have been financially crippled by the freeze, resulting in mass layoffs, furloughs, and significant program disruptions. The lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions are unconstitutional, unlawful, and have caused severe harm to these organizations and the populations they serve. "The companies and NGOs responsible for implementing USAID programs worldwide have been crippled by the freeze, but the consequences extend beyond these organizations, leaving millions of people without access to lifesaving humanitarian and development assistance." "One cannot overstate the impact of that unlawful course of conduct: on businesses large and small forced to shut down their programs and let employees go; on hungry children across the globe who will go without; on populations around the world facing deadly disease; and on our constitutional order."  (DEVEX, "Major New Lawsuit Challenges Aid Freeze")

West Bank

The forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the northern West Bank has intensified with Israel's ongoing Operation Iron Wall since January 21. Nearly emptying several refugee camps, including Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and El Far’a, the operation has become the longest in the West Bank since the second intifada. Large-scale Israeli military actions since mid-2023 have led to thousands of families being displaced, rendering refugee camps uninhabitable and creating a cycle of forced migration without judicial oversight.(ReliefWeb, "Large scale displacement impacts 77,000 people")

WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) has implemented strict cost-cutting measures, including a global recruitment freeze, travel restrictions, and limits on procurement and training, in response to a U.S. funding pause triggered by Trump’s executive order reviewing foreign aid. While emergency food assistance received a waiver, the pause has disrupted humanitarian operations across the UN. WFP’s Chief of Staff emphasized the need to safeguard aid efforts despite the challenges. Meanwhile, protests erupted in Washington over the dismantling of USAID, following announcements of impending staff furloughs. (DEVEX,"Even Washington's favorite UN Agency has to tighten its belt")

Yemen

The U.N. has suspended humanitarian operations in northern Yemen after the Iran-backed Houthis detained eight more staff members, bringing the total arrested since 2021 to 24. Despite a December agreement to halt such detentions, the Houthis continue to hold U.N. employees on vague charges of espionage and foreign intervention, creating hostile conditions for aid work. (NYTimes, "UN Suspends Work After Houthis Arrest More Staff")