US aid cuts put millions in Yemen at risk: Amnesty

Amnesty International warned on Thursday that sweeping US aid cuts, compounded by air strikes on Houthi rebels, will have dire consequences for the people of Yemen, more than half of whom rely on assistance to survive.

- 

In January, US President Donald Trump imposed a freeze on foreign aid pending a review, after which Washington announced the cancellation of 83 per cent of programmes at the US Agency for International Development (US-AID).

The cuts risk deepening one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, Amnesty said, with the United States having been Yemen’s largest humanitarian donor for years.

Citing aid workers, the organisation said slashing funding “has led to the shut-down of life-saving assistance and protection services”.

This includes treatment for malnutrition in children, services for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and other healthcare services for children.