Press TV posted on 23 February 2026 an article titled "Trump Admin Terminates 'Lifesaving' Aid Programs to Seven African Countries: Report."
The Atlantic magazine reported that the Trump administration has decided to end humanitarian aid programs in seven African countries because there is no strong connection between the humanitarian response and US national interests. The seven countries are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 10 December 2025 a report titled "The Painful, Seismic Shift in Humanitarian Aid -- And What's Next" by Allison Lombardo and Stewart Patrick.
For decades the United States was by far the world's largest humanitarian aid donor. In 2024, it provided 38 percent of total emergency assistance tracked by the United Nations. The dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development by the Trump administration changed all of this.
The Trump administration's proposed FY2026 budget cuts funding for humanitarian aid by 70 percent. It cut funding for the World Food Program by more than 90 percent and made huge cuts in funding for UNICEF and the International Organization for migration.
Africa is the biggest loser in these US cutbacks. The continent accounts for 10 of the 13 hardest hit countries.
UN News posted on 10 July 2025 an article titled "International Criminal Court: War Crimes, Systematic Sexual Violence Ongoing in Darfur" by Vibhu Mishra.
The International Criminal Court told the UN Security Council that it has reasonable grounds to believe that both war crimes and crimes against humanity continue to be committed in the Darfur region of Sudan where there is a deepening conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Sexual violence directed against women and girls is one of the most disturbing patterns.
Reuters published on 8 October 2024 an article titled "UN Weighs Suspending Relief to Ethiopia's Amhara after Aid Workers Attacked, Document Shows" by Reade Levinson and Giulia Paravicini.
Five aid workers were killed, 10 assaulted, and 11 kidnapped by unidentified criminal gangs in Amhara Region between January and June 2024. The United Nations is seriously considering a temporary suspension of relief operations in Amhara Region unless the government can guarantee their safety.
Reuters published on 16 April 2024 an article titled "UN Raises Over $600 mln to Boost Aid to Ethiopia."
A UN-hosted pledging conference raised $629 million in humanitarian assistance for Ethiopia, well short of the $1 billion goal. The biggest donor was the United States at $253 million, followed by the United Kingdom at $125 million.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) published on 7 September 2023 a detailed account titled "Sudan Situation Report."
The report documents the humanitarian requirements for Sudan as a result of the ongoing conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and steps taken by the international community to meet those needs. For the first time since the conflict began in mid-April, humanitarian convoys reached North Darfur and South Darfur.
UNOCHA noted that it has received in 2023 $676 million in funding for Sudan. The United States has provided $380 million of the amount or well over half.
The Associated Press published on 24 May 2023 an article titled "UN Conference Raises Less than $1 Billion for Climate-wracked Horn of Africa in Major Disappointment" by Edith M. Lederer.
Non-governmental organizations hoped to raise more than $5 billion to help over 30 million people in the Horn of Africa facing a climate crisis and mass displacement. In a major disappointment, it raised less than $800 million in new funding, of which the United States pledged $524 million.
UN News published on 11 April 2023 an article titled "In Mogadishu, UN Chief Urges 'Massive International Support' for Somalia."
Nearly 5 million Somalis are experiencing acute food insecurity and require massive international support, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during a visit to Somalia.
The Voice of America published on 22 March 2023 an article titled "Rights Experts: Violations in Ethiopia Must Be Investigated to Ensure Durable Peace" by Lisa Schlein.
The three-member UN International Committee of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia warned that peace in Tigray Region will not last unless violations committed during the civil war are investigated and perpetrators held to account.
The Voice of America published on 20 February 2023 an article titled "Donor Fatigue, Somalia Aid Cuts Worry Aid Workers" by Harun Maruf.
Crises in other parts of the world such as Turkey and Ukraine and donor fatigue are resulting in less attention to the drought in Somalia. Donor country financial support continues to drop, although the United States remains the most generous source of aid.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) published on 7 October 2022 its "Ethiopia Situation Report."
UNOCHA reported that twenty million Ethiopians now require humanitarian assistance throughout the country due to civil conflict, drought, and flooding. Renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia and Oromia has increased the number of internally displaced persons in Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, and Afar Regions.
UN News published on 22 September 2022 a press release titled "Ethiopia: Civilians again Mired in Intractable and Deadly War, Human Rights Council Hears."
The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia reported to the Human Rights Council in Geneva that it believes crimes against humanity have been committed. It cited atrocities by both sides in the conflict in northern Ethiopia.
Agence France Presse published on 8 September 2022 an article titled "Aid Halted to Ethiopia's Tigray, UN Says, As Fighting Escalates" by Aymeric Vincenot.
The resumption of combat in northern Ethiopia has resulted in an end of humanitarian aid shipments to Tigray Region. The last humanitarian convoy to enter Tigray consisted of 158 trucks on 23 August.
Ethiopia Insight published on 11 August 2022 a commentary titled "Ethiopian Officials Admit Using a Biafra-like Siege to Starve Tigray" by Jan Nyssen, Ghent University in Belgium.
The author argues that it was the policy of the Ethiopian central government to starve into submission the population of Tigray Region.
The UNOCHA published on 5 August 2022 its "Situation Report for Ethiopia." It suggests the food security situation in Tigray Region has improved somewhat compared to the report cited above. It also notes the situation in Afar Region is dire and other parts of Ethiopia are experiencing significant food security problems.
Human Rights Watch published on 24 March 2022 a report titled "Ethiopia: Airstrike on Camp for Displaced Likely War Crime."
On January 7, an Ethiopian government airstrike hit a school compound in the town of Dedebit housing thousands of displaced Tigrayans in northwestern Tigray. Human Rights Watch said the drone strike killed at least 57 civilians and wounded more than 42 others. It said the strike constituted "an apparent war crime."
The New York Times published on 24 March 2022 an article titled "Ethiopia Declares 'Humanitarian Truce' in War-Ravaged Tigray Region" by Abdi Latif Dahir and Simon Marks.
The Ethiopian government announced on 24 March a "humanitarian truce" in Tigray region where millions are hungry and food has not been delivered since December. The hope is this will lead to a sustainable peace.
Ethiopia Insight published on 19 February 2022 a commentary titled "The Drought in Oromia Has Reached a Crisis Point" by Abreham Ketema.
Three consecutive below average rainy seasons have brought drought to parts of four Ethiopian regions--Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations, and Southwest--putting almost 7 million persons at risk.
Relief Web posted on 4 February 2022 an update on the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia. The military situation in Amhara and Tigray regions is relatively calm, but heavy clashes are occurring along the Tigray-Afar border area. This has led to increased numbers of internally displaced persons and greater need for humanitarian assistance.
Agence France Presse published on 9 January 2022 an article titled "Aid Agencies Suspend Work in Tigray Area Hit by Deadly Strike: UN" by Tanya Willmer.
Following scores of civilian casualties in the airstrike on the internally displaced persons camp of Dedebit in northwestern Tigray Region, the UN and its humanitarian partners have suspended operations in that area due to the threat of additional drone strikes.
UN News published on 18 November 2021 an article titled "Bachelet Condemns Killings of Peaceful Protesters in Sudan."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, announced that at least 39 peaceful protesters have been killed by Sudanese security forces since the 25 October military coup.
