HETAUDA, Nepal (AP) — Rubi Lama, a former aid worker, now works as a sex worker on the highways of central Nepal after losing her job due to cuts in U.S. foreign aid. For nine years, Lama, who is transgender, conducted HIV outreach among marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ sex workers. The U.S. foreign aid cuts have left over 280,000 aid workers worldwide jobless, significantly impacting those in impoverished regions like Nepal. Many former aid workers, including around 100 LGBTQ+ individuals, have turned to sex work for survival, facing increased health risks and violence.
The funding cuts have also eliminated access to HIV prevention medication, raising concerns among health experts about a potential spike in HIV prevalence among sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community. The Blue Diamond Society, which provided essential health services, has been severely affected, losing 85% of its funding from USAID, resulting in the closure of clinics and loss of jobs for many staff members.
In a statement, the U.S. State Department noted that the Trump administration aimed to improve the efficiency of assistance programs, despite the significant job losses reported. In Nepal alone, approximately 35,000 aid workers have lost their jobs, exacerbating the already high unemployment rate in the country.