People in need suffer without USAID
To the Editor:
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which the Trump Administration reduced severely, leaves many countries without the help they need desperately. USAID has saved millions of people from diseases and famine since the 1960s. Over those years, USAID also assisted 15 countries where Non-governmental Organizations (NGOS) provide help to people in great poverty. Catholic Relief Services received 50-60% of its funding from USAID to assist countries around the world.
The reduction leaves these countries short of medical personnel and technical advisors to help them stay alive and to thrive. The storehouses in these countries are without wheat from Montana, rice from Arkansas, lentils from Washington state, peas from Minnesota and North Dakota, sorghum from Kansas, corn and soybeans from Iowa and the life-saving peanut paste from Georgia.
Our country’s farmers also benefited by being able to sell their crops ($2 billion in 2024 to USAID), providing 41% of the aid. People used to see USAID trucks roll into their communities and the visibility showed them that America was a generous and compassionate country.
USAID might not have been perfect, but the few issues that needed addressing certainly outweighed the benefits to millions of people around the world.
Consider this issue through the story of Dives and Lazarus from the Bible. The parable tells of a rich man, Dives, who lived in luxury while Lazarus, a poor beggar, lives outside his gate. Dives refuses to give Lazarus even the food that fell from his table. Lazarus dies and is carried to heaven by angels. Dives dies and is buried. In Hades, the rich man sees Lazarus with Abraham and asks Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue. Abraham refuses, saying that a chasm separated the two men and that no one could cross between them.
Lee Mickey
St. Thomas More Parish, Coralville
