As emergency teams from several nations rush aid to earthquake-stricken Myanmar, the U.S. appears markedly absent, reflecting deep-seated cuts to foreign assistance programs under the Trump administration.
Trump's U.S.A.I.D. Funding Cuts Leave Myanmar in Peril
Trump's U.S.A.I.D. Funding Cuts Leave Myanmar in Peril
U.S. response to recent earthquake disaster severely lags behind other nations as aid teams mobilize.
China, Russia, and India have all dispatched emergency rescue teams and vital supplies to assist Myanmar, which was devastated by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck its central regions on Friday, resulting in over 1,700 confirmed deaths. The number of casualties is expected to rise as rescue operations progress. Meanwhile, neighboring nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam have also joined the humanitarian efforts.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the United States has remained notably slow in its response. President Trump, while dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), asserted that aid was forthcoming, but reports indicate that a U.S.A.I.D. assessment team would not arrive until at least Wednesday. Observers say this is significantly slower than the usual reaction time for disaster relief operations.
In stark contrast, Chinese rescue crews, equipped with trained search dogs, have already mobilized in Mandalay, a city severely impacted by the quake. China has pledged an immediate $14 million to support relief efforts, providing 126 rescue workers, medical supplies, drones, and vital equipment for detecting survivors among the rubble.
According to Michael Schiffer, a former assistant administrator for U.S.A.I.D. in the Asia bureau, the absence of a U.S. presence in Myanmar at this critical moment sends a troubling message. "If we don’t show up and China shows up, that sends a pretty strong message about our commitment to foreign aid,” he commented on the importance of maintaining a leadership role in global humanitarian efforts.
The delayed response from the U.S., once a leading figure in international relief, has raised concerns about its commitment to humanitarian aid and its implications for foreign policy in the region.
