crippled

Massive staffing reductions have crippled the agency’s ability to serve beneficiaries effectively, with regional office staff mostly eliminated, headquarters staffing cut by nearly half, and field office workers reassigned from face-to-face service to phone duties.

The southern African country has also been crippled by nationwide power outages and fuel shortages.

In addition, Malawi has been forced to devalue its currency and was recently crippled by fuel shortages and nationwide power outages.

The early pandemic era crippled businesses, forcing several theater chains, such as Alamo Drafthouse and Regal Cinemas, to file for bankruptcy.

But many in the industry have called the ban a knee-jerk move, which they say has crippled a thriving sector and would hurt those it is trying to protect.