US secretary of state Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate halt to work on virtually all existing foreign aid programmes pending a review into whether they are consistent with President Donald Trump’s policies, according to an internal cable seen by the Financial Times.

Health and humanitarian groups around the world were still uncertain on January 29 if and how they could resume work after the United States issued a waiver for “life-saving” assistance in President Donald Trump’s freeze on U.S. foreign aid.

Exemptions include humanitarian assistance such as core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and subsistence assistance

After Donald Trump froze nearly all U.S. foreign aid last week, international projects on health, education, food, and all other humanitarian areas were placed in jeopardy.

In a follow-up memo after an outcry from aid groups, Rubio clarified that other “humanitarian assistance” besides food would also be exempt during the review period. Humanitarian assistance was defined as “core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and subsistence assistance”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced exemptions in the freeze on foreign assistance, continuing funding for humanitarian items like shelter and medicine. President Trump had ordered a 90-day pause on assistance.

A number of development programmes and relief assistance efforts around the world have come to a halt this week after President Trump froze all foreign assistance provided by the United States, calling into question the future of foreign aid around the globe.

Trump administration changes have upended the US agency charged with providing humanitarian aid to countries overseas. Dozens of senior officials have been put on leave, thousands of contractors laid off, and a sweeping freeze imposed on billions of dollars in foreign assistance.

Trump administration changes have upended the US agency charged with providing humanitarian aid to countries overseas, with dozens of senior officials put on leave, thousands of contractors laid off,

The decision comes as President Donald Trump pushes for all government departments to prioritise ‘America First’.

Despite a waiver by the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, many development assistance and cooperation programmes are on hold. The US wants to reassess funding to see if they are in line with the new Tr

However, stakeholders call on the government to accelerate self-reliance in health service delivery to avoid such a similar situation in future. Thank you for reading Nation.Africa Show plans Ugandans living with HIV can now breathe a sigh of relief after the United States (US) on January 29 issued a waiver for life-saving humanitarian assistance.