Cutting aid: U.S. response to Myanmar earthquake questioned

Questions rise regarding the U.S. Agency for International Development's (U.S.A.I.D.) effectiveness following significant cuts, resulting in slower emergency aid deployment to Myanmar after a devastating earthquake.

In the wake of a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, which has already claimed the lives of over 1,700 people, international aid has poured in from neighboring countries. China, Russia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam have dispatched emergency teams and supplies, yet the United States, historically a leader in foreign assistance, remains conspicuously absent from immediate relief efforts.

Despite assurances from President Trump that assistance was forthcoming, the current state of the U.S.A.I.D. undercutting has left a three-person assessment team delayed, expected to arrive only later this week. Many familiar with the situation noted that this response is slower than in typical disaster relief scenarios.

In stark contrast, Chinese search-and-rescue teams have swiftly mobilized to Mandalay, deploying 126 rescue workers, along with specially trained dogs, medical kits, and advanced technology to locate survivors. Beijing has pledged $14 million in aid, intensifying its presence in the region.

Experts, including former U.S.A.I.D. Asia bureau assistant administrator Michael Schiffer, emphasize that these delays and cuts in American aid could undermine U.S. foreign policy. "If we don’t show up and China shows up, that sends a pretty strong message," Schiffer remarked, pointing to the implications of the U.S. absence in humanitarian aid during crises.

With the death toll expected to rise as more bodies are recovered and remote areas are reached, the global community watches closely as the U.S. faces scrutiny over its commitment to international support following urgent humanitarian disasters.