The reduction of US development funding could lead to an increase in the number of refugees and migrants heading to Europe, warned Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze.
The US has slashed more than 90% of its foreign aid contracts and around $60 billion in development funding. This may exacerbate economic and political crises in impoverished countries, fueling migration.
The cuts will particularly affect Senegal, Mali, Syria, and Afghanistan. In Senegal, USAID projects, including malaria control and food programs, are shutting down, potentially increasing migration to the Canary Islands. In Mali, instability following a military coup has been worsened by the withdrawal of US aid, leaving 270,000 people without essential services. In Syria and Afghanistan, drastic funding reductions are aggravating humanitarian crises, forcing more people to seek asylum in Europe.
For the third consecutive year, the EU has recorded over 1 million asylum applications, and experts warn that the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
