Alexander Smith, a contractor for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said he was given a choice between resignation and dismissal after preparing a presentation on maternal and child mortality among Palestinians, which was cancelled at the last minute by USAID leadership last week.
Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition chose to resign on Monday after four years at USAID. In his resignation letter to the head of the agency, Samantha Power, he complained about the inconsistencies in USAID’s approach to different countries and humanitarian crises, and the general treatment of Palestinians.
“I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race,” he wrote.
Gentle reminder that USAID is essentially another branch of the CIA.
I was about to say, if you’re losing people from the coup factory, you’re doing something wrong.
This. Though I support his stand and the good work that him and people like him do using aid funds despite the organization’s geopolitical bent, the man forgot who he was actually working for.
It has been decided that the status quo will continue despite the mounting costs, your criticism and resistance is meaningless to them.