Aid organizations are still subject to new registration requirements that require them to give details about their staff to the Israeli authorities. Many organizations have decided this is a line they will not cross, meaning they cannot deliver critical aid to Palestinians.
The eradication of USAID will have global ripple effects for decades. The agency, which had a budget of more than US$35 billion, was the backbone of much of the international assistance work in developing regions. This signals to other governments that they can also step back from their humanitarian commitments.
Despite dwindling supplies and a total blockade on anything new entering the Gaza Strip, aid organizations staffed by Palestinians themselves continue to serve the local population. However, with Israeli authorities imposing new registration requirements on INGOs, many may have to leave the Gaza Strip after working in the region for decades.
Understanding the interconnectedness of culture and nature in Djola society highlights the need for conservation efforts that respect Indigenous traditions and the profound impact of environmental change on intangible cultural heritage.
Kawawana underscores the power of Indigenous conservation while exposing the complex challenges communities confront. There’s an inherent tension in "protection": securing resources for one group can unintentionally inflict hardship on others.
