(Ecofin Agency) - In December 2024, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners called for $7.6 billion in funding for 2025 to support 35 million people affected by crises in West and Central Africa.

President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend U.S. foreign aid globally, except for Israel and Egypt, has raised alarms about its potential impact on African countries heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance. This move, part of the “America First” agenda, includes a 90-day review of international aid programs to assess their effectiveness.

Countries like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and Ethiopia, already grappling with crises such as famine, conflict, climate change, and economic instability, are particularly vulnerable to losing this critical support.

South Sudan

This nation remains engulfed in prolonged conflict, displacement, and a worsening famine exacerbated by climate change. In 2024, about 9 million people, or 73% of the population, required humanitarian aid, with 7 million facing severe food insecurity during the lean season. The U.S. contributed $351 million by July 2024, bringing its total aid since 2011 to $7.3 billion. For 2025, the Humanitarian Response Plan aims to raise $4.2 billion to assist nearly 21 million people, restore basic services, and enhance protection, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

DRC

Over 25 million people in the DRC face critical food insecurity due to armed conflicts, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. With 5.7 million internally displaced people, the country is at the heart of a humanitarian crisis. In 2024, USAID provided $424 million in humanitarian aid, including vaccines to combat epidemics like mpox. Over the past decade, U.S. aid to the DRC has exceeded $6 billion. For 2025, the country’s humanitarian needs are estimated at $2.5 billion, targeting 11 million of the most vulnerable people.

Somalia

Plagued by insecurity, chronic poverty, and extreme climate events, Somalia had 6.9 million people in need of humanitarian aid in 2024. Between October and December, the U.S. allocated $97.5 million to resilience programs, food security efforts, and structural reforms. Since 2022, nearly $2.3 billion has been directed to Somalia for urgent needs. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan aims to assist 5.98 million people with a $1.4 billion budget, representing a 10% decrease from 2024.

Ethiopia

After international aid was suspended in 2023 due to allegations of misuse, support resumed in 2024. The U.S. provided $1.2 billion, while humanitarian needs for the year were estimated at $2.9 billion by OCHA. For 2025, Ethiopia’s needs are projected at $2 billion.

Sub-Saharan Africa: The Heart of Global Food Insecurity

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the global epicenter of food insecurity. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 342 million people across the continent faced severe food insecurity in 2022. In 2024, the U.S. mobilized $6.6 billion to address this crisis, maintaining its long-standing commitment. During a visit to Angola in December 2024, former President Joe Biden announced an additional $1 billion to combat hunger and address urgent needs in 31 African countries.

The Trump administration has also withdrawn U.S. financial support for the World Health Organization (WHO), a move the organization has called "regrettable." Meanwhile, the UN and its humanitarian partners have issued a $7.6 billion appeal for 2025 to provide life-saving assistance to 35 million people in West and Central Africa affected by conflict, food insecurity, and climate disasters.