For the world's poorest, fears for long-term setbacks after US aid cut

'Missing drugs for days for the HIV/Aids patients can cause death,' says an aid worker in Uganda

- 

In Uganda, millions of school-children have benefitted from a universal education programme backed by the United States. In South Sudan, US assistance has helped thousands of flood victims at risk of cholera. With one swoop of the pen, President Donald Trump froze the bulk of US foreign assistance for three months on returning to office, demanding a review to ensure all money meets his "America First" principles.

The Trump administration has since issued waivers for food and other humanitarian aid. But aid workers say uncertainty reigns - and that the impact is already being felt by some of the world's most vulnerable.

Even if US assistance returns after the 90-day review, aid workers fear long-term consequences from the cutoff, and some observers see a lasting blow to US credibility as China and other powers woo the developing world.

"Even if the funding eventually turns back on, great damage will have been done," said Peter Waiswa, an accountant in Kamuli, Uganda, who coordinates aid as part of a network known as the Compassion Connectors.

"Missing drugs for days for the HIV/Aids patients can cause death," he said.

Waiswa said that some schools in the universal education programme that relied on US assistance have already given notices for children not to report to school.