The U.S. freeze on foreign assistance to Morocco is «severely affecting several HIV programs» implemented by local NGOs, according to a report from The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) released Tuesday. This suspension puts efforts to prevent diseases, vaccination campaigns, and emergency health responses at risk, the UN body said. UNAIDS and Global Fund-supported programs are also in jeopardy, it added. Earlier on February, UNAIDS warned that over six million people could die from HIV and AIDS in the next four years if the U.S. government cuts its global funding for programs. While HIV/AIDS programs were temporarily exempt from the recent freeze on U.S. foreign aid, there are still concerns about the future of treatment programs, according to UNAIDS' deputy executive director. A recent independent Quick Impact Survey by the Rabat-based women's rights NGO, MRA (Mobilising for Rights Associates), has highlighted the immediate disruptions caused by the U.S. State Department's «stop work order» for all foreign assistance. Many local Moroccan associations are facing canceled activities, unpaid salaries, and financial instability. It is important to note that the U.S. State Department issued the «stop work» order for all ongoing foreign assistance and froze new aid following an instruction from President Donald Trump to review whether aid distribution aligns with his foreign policy goals. The United States remains the world's largest single donor, having allocated $72 billion in assistance during fiscal year 2023 alone.
