Aid cuts linked to HIV risks in Mozambique’s Gaza province
Al Jazeera reports that USAID cuts under Elon Musk put HIV treatment and prevention programs in Mozambique’s Gaza province in danger.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Foreign aid reductions carried out after Elon Musk took charge of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency have endangered HIV services in Mozambique’s Gaza province, according to Al Jazeera. The broadcaster reported that the province, which shares a name with the Palestinian territory, relied heavily on USAID-backed treatment and prevention work.
Al Jazeera said Musk, described by the broadcaster as the world’s richest man, moved against foreign aid spending after being appointed to lead the newly created department. According to Al Jazeera, Musk alleged that USAID was losing billions of dollars to corruption and spending money on wasteful projects.
One example Musk cited, Al Jazeera reported, was a claim that $50m had been used to buy “condoms for Hamas” in Gaza. The broadcaster said that claim confused the Gaza Strip with Gaza province in Mozambique, where HIV programs had been supported by USAID.
Al Jazeera reported that Gaza province has one of the world’s highest HIV rates. The broadcaster said USAID support there was tied to both treatment and prevention, making the cuts a direct threat to health services used by people living with or at risk of contracting HIV.
USAID closure described as trigger for health risks
According to Al Jazeera, Musk’s shutdown of USAID set off a chain of consequences in the province. The broadcaster said the disruption placed millions of lives at risk, though it did not provide a detailed figure in the summary of its report.
The report framed the Mozambique case as an example of how a claim about foreign aid spending in one place can affect public health work in another. Al Jazeera said its journalists traveled to Gaza province to document the effects of the cuts on the ground.
The 25-minute video report was published by Al Jazeera on July 22, 2026. It focused on the link the broadcaster drew between Musk’s campaign against USAID spending and the impact on HIV treatment and prevention in one of Mozambique’s poorest areas.
Al Jazeera’s account said the aid reductions followed Musk’s broader criticism of USAID, including allegations of corruption and waste. The broadcaster did not present a response from Musk, Trump’s department or USAID in the material summarized with the report.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.