Nicholas Kristof argues that the Trump administration’s 71% cut to humanitarian aid has turned U.S.A.I.D. into a liability for the world’s poorest children. After a year of reduced funding, agencies report soaring malnutrition in South Sudan and elsewhere, while the administration touts trade deals as a substitute for aid. The narrative that “aid never worked” masks a surge in preventable deaths.

Congress earmarked $600 million for the global vaccine alliance Gavi, yet the State Department has blocked the disbursement, jeopardizing immunisation programmes that save billions in health costs. A Lancet projection estimates the U.S. cuts could claim 9.4 million lives by 2030, including 2.5 million children under five. With European donors following suit, Gavi warns another 600,000 deaths are likely without the funding.

Beyond vaccines, the administration’s war‑time stance on Iran has spiked diesel prices by up to 160% in Myanmar and 87% in Nigeria, inflating food transport costs and threatening fertilizer supplies from the Persian Gulf. Analysts warn that a prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure could cut global fertilizer output by one‑third, driving hunger for an additional 45 million people before year‑end.