America's Shadow in Nepal: How USAID Cuts Exacerbate Humanitarian Crises The shadows alongside Nepal's darkened highways have long been a refuge for transgender sex workers, a community already vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
Aid workers from organizations like Friends Hetauda had visited this spot for years, offering free HIV tests and counseling as part of their efforts to mitigate the public health implications of poverty and conflict.
In 2022, however, the United States' decision to slash its foreign aid funding had a devastating ripple effect on these aid workers.