Sri Lanka, Jan. 28 -- Their livelihood crisis is caused by one of the new US President's first actions, largely un-anticipated: immediate suspension of all of America's international assistance programmes for a 90-day period pending full policy and efficiency review.

US aid - like aid from all aid-giving countries - covers the entire range of international support subjects (including direct materials as well as financing for supply of materials), from regular food and nutrition aid, to economic development assistance, military aid, support for civic rights protections, good governance, education and technology, social development, health and medical assistance.

The official public announcement said that Egypt and Israel are the only two...