**US to Provide Short-Term Funding for Initiative Tracking Abducted Ukrainian Children**
The US State Department has announced that it will provide short-term funding to an initiative tracking Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. This decision comes after the White House terminated the program, Reuters reported.
**Program Aimed at Documenting Russian Abductions**
The program, run by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab under the State Department’s Conflict Observatory, used biometric data and satellite imagery to track Russia’s abductions of Ukrainian children. At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion.
**Short-Term Funding to Ensure Data Transfer**
A State Department spokesperson said that the short-term funding would allow program implementers to ensure that essential data on abducted children is properly transferred to the relevant authorities. This is part of standard close-out procedures for terminated programs, according to the spokesperson.
**US Efforts to Cut Foreign Funding Criticized**
The comments come amid US President Donald Trump’s administration efforts to cut various agencies and initiatives, including foreign aid. These cuts have begun to affect international efforts to hold Russia accountable, including for war crimes committed in Ukraine.
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