The pause in US foreign assistance is affecting many important programmes in Sri Lanka, including ones critical to advancing food security, economic reforms, democratic governance, anti-corruption, border security, and orderly migration management, according to Marc-André Franche, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka.
He said these programmes were being carried out with the support of civil society, the private sector and development partners.
“For the United Nations in Sri Lanka, the US assistance represents about 12 percent of its annual budget across 10 ongoing programmes. They include partnerships in support of government priorities in agriculture and climate change adaptation, disaster preparedness, youth entrepreneurship, and border and maritime security,” Mr. Franche told the Sunday Times.
US President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that his country would undertake a general review of US funding and involvement in the United Nations. He also announced the US was withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reviewing its membership in the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and cutting aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The UN Resident Coordinator said the US was a leading partner of the world body, and with the leadership and generosity of the US, the UN could operate in the world’s most troubled places, saving lives and contributing to global stability and security.
He said the UN was engaging with its various US government partners to provide any additional information on its programmes and re-initiate cooperation as soon as possible.
“Thanks to the generosity of donors, led by the US, the UN assists and protects more than 100 million people every year through humanitarian programmes. The UN promotes peace and prevents war. US funding for the UN’s development work helps build a peaceful, stable society, which advances US foreign policy, national security and economic interests,” he said.
Mr. Franche said the UN hopes the US will resume assistance as soon as possible to all its partners.
(sundaytimes.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
