The U.S. aid freeze announced in late January is already dealing a harsh blow to African countries that are grappling with war and conflict. Millions of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mozambique, and Sudan are already facing extreme humanitarian crises, including displacement, food insecurity, and lack of access to basic services.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that the USA would continue funding life-saving medicine, partially exempting this from the 90-day freeze on foreign aid, has offered some relief to African nations but uncertainty continues to cloud its broader humanitarian programs. This is because the waiver allows funding for core medical services, food, and shelter but excludes support for programs that are related to abortion, transgender issues, and other services deemed to be “non-essential”.
According to USAID, in 2024, humanitarian assistance of US$6.6 billion was provided to sub-Saharan Africa, and in the FY2024 budget request, the Joe Biden Administration proposed US$8 billion in assistance to Africa. A significant portion, 73%, was dedicated to health programs, economic growth initiatives would receive 14%, while democracy, rights, and governance programs, peace and security efforts, and education and social services would each receive about 5%, 5%, and 3%, respectively.
Many humanitarian organizations warn that funding delays are already disrupting their operations. One such organization, Finn Church Aid (FCA), confirmed it had received a letter informing it that U.S. funding had been halted. In a press release, FCA’s Uganda Country Director, Wycliffe Nsheka, said that the suspension of US$4.4 million in aid puts 180,544 refugee students at risk of losing access to education.
“The impact of the freeze has immediate effects, including loss of access to education, school supplies, mental health support, child protection, learning spaces, menstrual hygiene support, and assistive devices for children with disabilities,” Nsheka explained.
In addition, FCA announced that it will lay off 342 staff members in Kenya and Uganda which will disrupt service delivery in the refugee settlements they support. According to NBS TV, USAID has also frozen US$1.5 billion in funding for various programs across Uganda.
See also: US Aid Freeze: Immediate Effects of the Executive Order | DevelopmentAid Dialogues
Meanwhile, an organization in Nairobi, Kenya that provides HIV prevention and care services to the LGBTQI+ community remains uncertain about its funding status. Despite the exemption for essential medicine, the executive order prohibits funding for programs that serve transgender groups.
“We received the Stop Work letter and had to shut down our center, but even with the exemption, we still don’t know if our funding will resume,” commented an official from the organization, who requested anonymity. “We are deeply concerned about the consequences for these vulnerable communities if they no longer receive the support they desperately need.”
According to Reuters, several clinics and health centers that provide vital services to transgender individuals in South Africa, run by South Africa’s Wits Reproductive Health and the HIV Institute, have been forced to shut down after receiving orders to halt their operations.
The Build One South Africa party has expressed concerns over the impact, noting that the U.S. has paused US$400 million in funding under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This funding accounts for approximately 17% of South Africa’s HIV health initiatives.
“This decision threatens to undermine critical efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, which continues to pose a significant health challenge in our country and across the African continent,” BOSA said in a statement.
The suspension of U.S. foreign aid, as reported in The Guardian, has raised significant concerns regarding the humanitarian situation of refugees globally, particularly in southern Africa where an estimated 12.2 million refugees required support as of 2024.
According to The Guardian, Filippo Grandi, Head of UNHCR, sent an email to his staff instructing them to suppress expenditure in response to the suspension, as the U.S. provides US$2.49 billion of its budget. Africa accounted for approximately 37% of the UNHCR’s US$10.2 billion 2024 budget.
See also: Kenya’s 2024 humanitarian aid landscape: Impact of US 90-day aid suspension
While visiting Angola in December 2024, former U.S. President Joe Biden committed an additional US$1 billion to tackle hunger and address the pressing needs in 31 African countries. However, this may not be realized due to the suspension, leaving 163 million people in sub-Saharan Africa facing acute food insecurity due to prolonged droughts in dire situations.
Additionally, the shutdown of USAID-funded FEWS NET on Thursday is expected to worsen the food crisis. FEWS NET provided critical data to 30 countries in Africa, Central America, and Asia, enabling swift responses to food shortages. Without it, the ability to detect and address hunger crises will be compromised, leading to delayed interventions, worsening malnutrition, and a heightened risk of famine in already fragile regions.
