The announcement of the US government on 24 January to suspend all foreign aid for at least 90 days has had a severe impact on the humanitarian and educational efforts of two Jesuit organisations dedicated to supporting marginalised communities worldwide.
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which runs programmes for refugees and displaced persons in nine countries—Chad, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, South Africa, South Sudan, Thailand, and Uganda—estimates that over 100,000 refugees and displaced people they currently support will be affected during the suspension period.
The International Federation of Fe y Alegría, which provides quality and inclusive education to marginalised communities, is likewise facing significant disruptions in providing essential services, such as educational programmes, early childhood, psychosocial support, school feeding, and job training in several countries.
The continued work of JRS and Fe y Alegría relies on the generosity and goodwill of individuals, organisations, and governments to sustain these vital programmes. To support their work, please click here.
Read JRS’ statement here.