Congo’s humanitarian operations were struck by the Trump aid pause

Imagine waking up one day to find that the lifeline keeping you and your family alive has been abruptly cut. That’s the harsh reality for millions in the Democratic Republic of Congo as Trump’s aid pause sends shockwaves through humanitarian operations.

The DR. Congo has been a battleground for decades. These conflicts date back to the Congo Crisis of the 1960s. The United Nations has been involved in peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts ever since, but the recent Trump aid pause has ruined the works.

On Tuesday, a top U.N. aid official in Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, said that the U.S. pause on foreign aid has had a “major impact” in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where humanitarian operations last year were 70% funded by Washington.

Trump’s administration decided to hit the pause button on foreign aid, citing a need to review contributions. But what does that mean for the Congolese people? With 70% of humanitarian operations funded by the U.S., the impact has been catastrophic. Emergency health services, shelters, and food programs have all been hit, leaving millions in dire straits.

According to Bruno Lemarquis, in 2024, the U.N. humanitarian response plan for the DRC received $1.3 billion, of which $910 million came from the United States. He added that since U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a pause on foreign aid last month, some programs have had to shut down.

Lemarquis said: “Our ultra-dependence on U.S. funding means a lot of programs had to shut down on everything we are doing. So, it’s emergency health, it’s emergency shelter,” adding that coordination capacity in his office had to halt.

He told reporters via a video from the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, that “This is having major impact. Despite these challenges, we are here to stay and deliver.”

One has to wonder, is this really about “America First,” or is it a political chess move with little regard for human lives? The chaos and confusion left in the wake of this decision have only exacerbated an already dire situation.

While Trump’s administration reviews its policies, people are suffering. It’s high time for the international community to step up and fill the void left by the United States.