Eli5- Where does money come from when it comes to aid to other countries?

Question

With the huge earthquakes in Turkey the news is reporting the US is sending $3 million in aid. Where does that money come from? Is it in the form of supplies and manpower or is it just like a blank check sent to them?

In: 1

Answer 1

It can be all three.

If you see a headline of “5 million dollars in aid for XYZ” that number can be a combination of:

1 million dollars worth of personnel and special equipment (like rescue teams)

1 million dollars worth of supplies (bottled water and food)

3 million dollars cash.

It really depends on the specific case, sometimes the number is just the cash getting sent, sometimes it’s the value of the whole package.