A sudden and sweeping freeze on foreign aid by the United States government is significantly jeopardizing the human rights of refugees and civilians affected by armed conflict in Myanmar, according to a report from Amnesty International.
The organization warned that lives are at risk if the decision is not urgently reversed or modified to allow waivers for life-saving aid.
“The Trump administration’s harsh decision to immediately halt foreign aid is having an instant and devastating impact around the globe, particularly in Myanmar during this critical time,” said Joe Freeman, Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher.
The aid suspension has already led to the shutdown of hospitals in refugee camps, putting fleeing human rights defenders at risk of deportation and endangering programs aiding individuals in conflict zones.
On January 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing foreign aid for a 90-day review to determine whether it aligns with American foreign policy. Following this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stop-work order for assistance operations but allowed for exemptions, including emergency food aid and military support to Israel and Egypt.
While a waiver on January 28 exempted “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” recent communications indicate that these waivers have not reached organizations working along the Thai-Myanmar border. As a result, many operations have come to a halt, with dire consequences for vulnerable populations.
Amnesty International’s recent interviews with 12 Myanmar refugees and 14 organizations operating in border areas revealed a desperate situation. Refugees have expressed that the help they rely on has been drastically diminished. The funding pause has compounded the struggles of over 100,000 individuals in nine refugee camps, many of whom have been in these shelters for years due to previous waves of violence in Myanmar.
In the Umpien camp, for instance, residents reported that at least four individuals died due to the cessation of medical care linked to the aid stoppage. Witnesses described alarming scenes of patients being removed from hospitals as services were abruptly halted.
Despite the announcement of waivers, essential supplies such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria medications have been impacted, with humanitarian organizations indicating they received no communication confirming the waivers for critical life-saving operations.
Freeman pointed out that the U.S. government’s actions have inadvertently strengthened the rights-abusing Myanmar military during a time of crisis. “By stripping these organizations of their ability to support at-risk populations, the U.S. is facilitating further crackdowns on freedom of expression and increasing the vulnerability of those who have already fled to safety.”
The situation remains dire, with calls for the U.S. to immediately clarify that humanitarian groups can continue their life-saving work in Myanmar. As conditions worsen, the need for action has never been more urgent.
Credit: Amnesty
