logo
Unfinished US water projects leave global communities at risk

Unfinished US water projects leave global communities at risk

The Sun20-07-2025
TAVETA: The abrupt termination of U.S. foreign aid has left critical water and sanitation projects incomplete across 16 countries, endangering millions who relied on them for clean water and flood protection. Reuters uncovered 21 abandoned initiatives, with workers forced to leave behind half-dug canals, unsecured materials, and unfinished infrastructure.
In Mali, water towers meant for schools and clinics stand deserted. Nepal halted over 100 drinking water systems, leaving communities with unused cement and pipes. Lebanon's solar-powered water utility project was scrapped, forcing reliance on costly diesel. Kenya's Taita Taveta County faces heightened flood risks as incomplete irrigation canals threaten farms.
Mary Kibachia, a 74-year-old farmer, said, 'I have no protection from the flooding that the canal will now cause, the floods will definitely get worse.'
The Trump administration defended the cuts, arguing funds should prioritize Americans. However, bipartisan support previously backed these projects, including a 2014 law that doubled water infrastructure funding. Experts warn the cuts could reverse decades of progress, increasing disease, school dropouts, and extremist recruitment.
John Oldfield, a water infrastructure advocate, said, 'Do we want girls carrying water on their heads for their families? Or do you want them carrying school books?'
The U.S. State Department, now overseeing aid, has not commented on the halted projects. While Jordan's desalination plant funding was restored, programs in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Congo remain stalled.
In eastern Congo, defunct water kiosks have become playgrounds. Evelyne Mbaswa, a mother of nine, lost her son while fetching water—a perilous task in conflict zones. 'When we send young girls, they are raped, young boys are kidnapped.... All this is because of the lack of water,' she said.
Kenya's $100 million USAID project was only 15% complete when halted, leaving hazardous trenches and $100,000 in materials exposed. A U.S. embassy memo warned unfinished work could damage America's reputation and fuel extremism.
In Taita Taveta, incomplete canal walls risk collapse during rains. Community leader Juma Kubo said, 'Without plaster, the walls will collapse in heavy rain, and the flow of water will lead to the destruction of farms.' Locals now seek $526,000 to salvage the project.
For Kibachia, delays are dire. After her home flooded, she said, 'Where can I go? This is home.' - Reuters
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Five products to be hit by Trump's incoming tariffs
Five products to be hit by Trump's incoming tariffs

New Straits Times

time8 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Five products to be hit by Trump's incoming tariffs

WASHINGTON: The United States is set to raise tariffs on dozens of trading partners Friday if they fail to reach accords with President Donald Trump to avert the higher rates, and this risks raising prices for consumers. Economists have warned that steeper US tariffs, paid for by importers of foreign products, could add to business costs and trickle down to households. The risk is a dampening of consumption – a key driver of the world's biggest economy. Trump's tariffs could impact everything from coffee beans and rice to cocoa, seafood or even electronics. Here are some examples of products in the crosshairs: Over 99 per cent of America's coffee is imported, according to the National Coffee Association. It told AFP that two-thirds of US adults drink coffee daily. Top suppliers of coffee beans include Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). But Brazil, which accounted for over 30 per cent of such imports in recent years, faces a 50 per cent tariff threat come August 1. In a letter to Brazil's leadership, Trump cited a judical "witch hunt" against his right-wing ally, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, in unveiling the rate. Imports from Vietnam, meanwhile, face a 20 per cent additional tariff even after a deal the Southeast Asian country recently struck with Trump. Clothing like shirts and sweaters could also become pricier. China, Vietnam and Bangladesh accounted for more than half of US apparel imports from January through May this year, said the American Apparel & Footwear Association. All three countries face different tariff levels under the Trump administration. Chinese goods, which account for nearly a third of apparel imports, were hit by a fresh 30 percent duty this year – piling atop existing ones. If an existing truce expiring August 12 is not extended, tariffs on products from China could surge even higher, causing companies to halt imports or be forced to pass on more costs. Vietnamese goods accounted for nearly 20 per cent of clothing imports while those from Bangladesh made up about 11 per cent, the association said. Trump has threatened to impose a 35 per cent duty on Bangladesh goods. The United States is the biggest rice importing country in the Western Hemisphere, bringing in some 1.3 million tons, according to the USDA. More than 60 per cent of the country's rice imports are aromatic varieties, mostly jasmine from Thailand and basmati from India and Pakistan. Thailand faces a prospective 36 per cent tariff come Friday, India 26 per cent and Pakistan, 29 percent. The United States also takes in smaller quantities of medium and short-grained rice from Asia and some products from South America. US imports of cocoa beans – mostly from places like the Ivory Coast and Ecuador – averaged over $1.1 billion annually from 2017 to 2021, according to the USDA. Among them, the Ivory Coast faces a 21 per cent tariff. Cocoa butter shipments were valued at US$576 million annually and mainly supplied by Indonesia and Malaysia, facing fresh duties of 19 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. Besides tariffs on imports from specific countries, Trump has also threatened a 50 per cent duty on copper imports come August 1. Consulting firm BCG warned that this would add US$8.6 billion to the cost of raw copper and refined copper imported into the country – and more if tariffs extended into derivative products. BCG expects material costs to jump for the construction industry – which uses 42 per cent of copper products consumed domestically – and makers of electronics goods.

TA downgrades Westports as tariff threat escalates
TA downgrades Westports as tariff threat escalates

Focus Malaysia

time8 minutes ago

  • Focus Malaysia

TA downgrades Westports as tariff threat escalates

TWO days away from President Trump announcing final trade tariffs for every nation, TA Securities remain hopeful that the Malaysian government will secure a more favourable deal within the next 48 hours, though the odds appear slim. 'Should negotiations fall through, we believe the looming 25% export tariff would significantly undermine Malaysia's trade competitiveness, putting the country at a distinct disadvantage,' said TA. More critically, TA expect tariff-inflated U.S. imports to dampen consumer spending in quarter four 2025, particularly given that many consumers likely stocked up during the 90-day tariff reprieve. Recently, President Trump has indicated that all countries will face tariffs ranging from 15% to 50%. As such, Malaysia would be able to minimise the impact from the structural change only if the tariff is set at 20% levels or near to its peers, that is, Vietnam (20%), the Philippines (19%), Indonesia (19%), Japan (15%) and EU (15%). As the access to US' high-tech chips and China's rare earth minerals and magnets would remain the key concerns of both countries and subject to export restrictions, we believe the rule of origin would also be applied to Malaysian exports as Malaysia is one of the important transhipment hubs in the strait of Malacca. In other words, higher tariff could be imposed on goods transhipped through Malaysia like the trade deal between US-Vietnam, which includes a 40% tariff on transhipment. We keep our FY25-27 earnings unchanged at this juncture and maintain Westports' financial year 2025 (FY25) transhipment and gateway volume growth assumptions of 3% and 2% respectively, pending the tariff outcome in Aug-25. TA downgrades Westports to Sell ahead of the looming risk from the trade tariff. —July 30, 2025 Main image: BusinessToday

Trump's ex-lawyer confirmed as US judge in partisan Senate vote
Trump's ex-lawyer confirmed as US judge in partisan Senate vote

The Sun

time38 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Trump's ex-lawyer confirmed as US judge in partisan Senate vote

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Emil Bove, was confirmed as a federal appellate judge in a narrow 50-49 Senate vote on Tuesday. The Republican-led chamber approved Bove's lifetime appointment to the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals despite strong Democratic opposition. Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks to vote against the nomination. However, the GOP's 53-47 majority ensured Bove's confirmation. The 44-year-old former federal prosecutor previously served as the third-ranking official in the Justice Department under Trump. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat Dick Durbin sharply criticized the appointment, stating, 'Mr. Bove's primary qualification appears to be his blind loyalty to this President.' Durbin cited Bove's alleged support for January 6 Capitol rioters and his dismissal of prosecutors investigating them. Legal professionals had voiced strong objections before the vote. Over 900 former Justice Department attorneys signed a letter calling Bove's promotion 'intolerable,' while 75 retired judges argued it was 'deeply inappropriate for a president to nominate their own criminal defense attorney.' Bove represented Trump in multiple cases, including the New York hush money trial that resulted in Trump's conviction on 34 counts. He also handled two federal criminal cases that were dismissed after Trump's 2024 election victory. Earlier this year, Bove faced scrutiny for dropping bribery charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, which triggered resignations in the Manhattan US attorney's office. He denied allegations that the decision was politically motivated. - AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store