Barack Obama, the US president, is still to decide on the future direction of USAid, the US's foreign aid agency, which was shrunk down under the administration of George Bush, his predecessor.

Under Bush, USAid became a contracting agency rather than an operational aid agency and has remained without a leader since the beginning of the year.

In the meantime, non-governmental organisations, frustrated by the lack of assistance from the US government, are trying to fill the gap.

Kimberly Halkett reports.