Republicans Gutted A Program That Saved Millions Of Kids. I Know Because I’m One Of Them : Igor Bobic / Huffington Post

Article shared by Tom McDermott

It is always refreshing to find the voice of someone speaking out on behalf of UNICEF, but who himself or herself came through a terrible war, thanks at least in small part with help from UNICEF and other aid  agencies. 

In this case the voice is that of Igor Bobic, who is now a well-established Washington political reporter, but back in 1992 was just a 4 year old kid trying to survive the war in Bosnia while living with his family in basement shelter in Sarajevo.  

Like others in the UN and UNICEF team in former Yugoslavia, I am pleased to hear that we helped - even if just a little.   Tom

Click here for the article

Summary
In a personal and sharply critical piece, journalist Igor Bobic recounts how UNICEF helped save his life during the Bosnian war—and now watches with dismay as Congress, under pressure from Donald Trump, slashes $137 million in U.S. funding to the agency. The cuts, part of a $9 billion rescissions package, are framed by Republican leaders as targeting wasteful foreign aid. Yet Bobic finds no evidence of such waste at UNICEF, and his interviews with Republican senators yield deflections and confusion, with some conflating UNICEF’s mission with unrelated USAID programs. UNICEF warns that the cuts will directly lead to suffering and death among children in conflict zones.

Quotes

“Simply put, we will not be able to provide needed services next year if our FY25 U.S. contribution is rescinded and too many children will suffer or die as a result.” — Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director
“What, I asked them, is objectionable about an organization dedicated to helping children?”
“I find it impossible not to sympathize with vulnerable children like me who could suffer as a result of this decision to target an organization that has been proven to save lives — including my own.”