International organisations and local civil society scramble to continue their life-saving work amidst an information vacuum
4 FEB – President Trump’s freeze on U.S. foreign assistance is having a devastating impact on the global response to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with the UN, international organisations, and local Sudanese groups scrambling to understand the immediate impacts.
The simultaneous dismantling of the U.S. Department of Aid (USAID) has caused major disruption to Sudanese and international civil society.
As of 7 Feb at 23:59 EST, “all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs”. - USAID
In 2024, the United States was the largest single donor, providing over $803 million, or 45% of funds to the United Nation’s Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan.
"So much of the aid we rely on comes from the United States,” a senior UN official told Avaaz. "And if the funding is not turned back on, our [the UN’s] work would collapse, it would simply not be viable to continue delivering a serious response in Sudan."
With famine expected to worsen in Sudan, the impacts on food assistance will be catastrophic. The U.S. provided at least $266 million to the World Food Program for Sudan in 2024. Though President Trump’s executive order provided an exemption for emergency food assistance, there is significant confusion over what this means in practice. The impacts of these cuts are widespread and include the closure of the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET), imperiling the international response to Sudan’s famine. With famine expected to spread to at least five additional areas by mid-May, the needs on the ground are immediate and urgent.
Doctors Without Borders warned yesterday that the international community must act now to prevent further deaths in Sudan. “To provide only those in the most extreme situation with monthly food rations, 2,500 aid trucks per month would be required, whereas only about 1,150 crossed into Darfur between August and December,” said Stephane Doyon, MSF operations manager.
The local, youth-led humanitarian response has also been deeply impacted. USAID contributed almost two-thirds of the funding to Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms (ERR) which provide emergency food assistance as well as medical care to their communities.
Avaaz spoke with a member of Khartoum ERR Women’s Response Office who reported that: "70% of our funding comes from USAID. Currently, our operations are being significantly impacted by the foreign aid freeze. Our USAID funding typically supports emergency health response services, and we recently expanded to include relocation assistance for evacuating people from conflict zones to receive emergency medical care. We also collaborate with central kitchens and immediate food security programs, providing funds, food packages, and hygiene supplies to people in conflict zones.
“While the immediate effects of the funding freeze aren't yet visible, I anticipate devastating consequences if we don't find a solution quickly. Even in the best-case scenario, where they resume funding emergency operations after this [90 day] period, we weren't given sufficient notice to secure alternative funding for the interim. Additionally, we'll lose the flexible funding system we had with USAID.
"Some of our Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) lack official registration, making them ineligible for support from other organizations. USAID understood our need for immediate response capability and permitted a flexible fund distribution system. We'll need to explore alternative funding sources, potentially including other donors or crowdfunding initiatives, to manage this crisis and maintain our operations.
"Our work serves as a crucial lifeline for many people, and we cannot abandon them."
Whilst the Trump Administration undergoes its review of foreign assistance, the Sudanese humanitarian response and documenters of international crimes will struggle to continue their work. A senior figure working at an NGO operating in Sudan and dependent on US funds said: "We are also concerned that humanitarian aid funding for Sudan may be cut. Sudan has long had bipartisan support in Congress. We hope that the House and Senate will ensure critical aid programs to Sudan continue to be funded and priority is given to supporting Sudanese-led response operations. Now is not the time to abandon the Sudanese people."
This dispatch from Avaaz is the latest in a weekly series designed to support the international media's coverage of the war in Sudan. We can connect you with voices from the ground, experts and survivors of the war. Please email sudan@avaaz.org.
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