The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a humanitarian crisis following the U.S. government’s decision to halt foreign aid, a move that has severely disrupted relief operations, according to a top United Nations official.
Bruno Lemarquis, the U.N.’s humanitarian coordinator in DRC, revealed that U.S. funding accounted for 70% of the country’s emergency response budget in 2024, with Washington providing $910 million out of the total $1.3 billion received.
Since former President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid last month, critical programs, including emergency healthcare and shelter, have been forced to shut down.
“Our heavy reliance on U.S. funding means that many of our operations have come to a standstill,” Lemarquis said via video from Kinshasa. He added that even coordination efforts within his own office had been impacted.
The aid freeze comes at a time of escalating conflict in eastern Congo, where a resurgent insurgency has displaced hundreds of thousands and raised concerns about a broader regional war.
Although some programs have begun receiving U.S. approval to resume operations, humanitarian organizations remain uncertain about the long-term implications of the pause.
The lack of clarity surrounding Trump’s foreign aid review has left aid groups scrambling to determine whether they should continue their work without financial guarantees.
Despite these challenges, Lemarquis reaffirmed the U.N.’s commitment to staying in Congo and delivering aid.
