More Than 70 Organizations Oppose Proposed Cut-Off in Foreign Assistance to Central America

InterAction and over 70 member organizations issued the below statement in response to announcements by the Trump Administration that it is ending foreign assistance programs in the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras:

By cutting off poverty-alleviating and violence-reducing assistance to the people and civil society organizations of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, the Trump Administration is taking a step that undermines its own policy goals and runs counter to American values and interests. For years, leaders from both parties have supported U.S. development and humanitarian aid to Central America. That is because these relatively small investments address the grinding poverty, instability and human rights concerns at the root of displacement. The current levels of violence and suffering in the Northern Triangle of Central America risk severe further deterioration if development and humanitarian assistance is withdrawn.

Sadly, the unpredictability and volatility that stem from such chaotic policy decisions can erode the effectiveness of foreign assistance. The Administration frequently views U.S. foreign assistance only in transactional terms and not as part of a long-term strategy.

In response to this short-sighted and irresponsible decision, we urge Congress to demonstrate strong bipartisan support for aid to Central America.

InterAction Member Organizations Signed On to Our Statement (As of 4/4/2019):

1,000 Days
Action Against Hunger
Alliance for Peacebuilding
Alliance to End Hunger
American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa (ARAHA)
Americares
Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA)
Bethany Christian Services
Better World Campaign
Bread for the World
Brother’s Brother Foundation
Cadasta Foundation
CARE USA
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
Child Aid
ChildFund International
Church World Service
Concern Worldwide U.S.
CORE Group
Food for the Hungry
Global Communities
Global Health Council
Global Water 2020
Heartland Alliance International
Heifer International
Helen Keller International
Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD)
HIAS
Humentum
iMMAP Inc.
Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs
International Relief Teams
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
International Youth Foundation
IntraHealth International
Islamic Relief USA
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
Keystone Human Services
Lutheran World Relief
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Mercy Corps
Mercy Without Limits
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International
Norwegian Refugee Council USA
Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development (NDIGD)
ONE
Oxfam America
PATH
Plan International USA
Planet Aid
Plant with Purpose
Project Concern International (PCI)
Refugees International
Relief International
RESULTS
ReSurge International
Save the Children
Solar Cookers International
Solidarity Center
SPOON
The Hunger Project
The Nature Conservancy
Trickle Up
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
United Methodist Committee on Relief
United Nations Association – USA
Village Enterprise
WaterAid America
Women’s Refugee Commission
World Renew
World Vision