Olusegun Ariyo
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has listed Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Syria and Ukraine as some of the crises most at risk as a result of the freeze on U.S. humanitarian foreign assistance.
According to the UN agency, the freeze has left millions of vulnerable people around the world at risk, and families facing conflict, famine, and health crises are now in even greater danger and cannot be let down.
“Disrupting life-saving aid will have deadly consequences at a moment when humanitarian crises are multiplying, and the needs are greater than ever.
“The United Nations and partners are working tirelessly to provide life-saving assistance to those in desperate need. But without immediate funding, critical programmes will be cut, and countless lives will hang in the balance,” stated the UN body.
It noted that if aid to Sudan was disrupted, malnutrition and famine would worsen, and more people would die.
“Emergency shelters, critical medical clinics in conflict zones, and sanitation systems combating cholera outbreaks will no longer operate,” declared UN OCHA, stressing that while humanitarian aid is critical to the success of the ceasefire in Gaza, an escalating conflict in eastern DRC in recent weeks has left hundreds of persons dead, injured and trapped in their homes.
On Syria and Ukraine, the UN stated: “The people of Syria stand at a moment of history – the end of more than five decades of brutal, dictatorial rule has given rise to much hope. However, humanitarian needs remain immense, with millions displaced and food insecure. It would be cruel to abandon them now during this historic time. In northern Syria, the suspension of water and other critical aid in camps is endangering the lives of displaced families, the majority of whom are women and children.
“The ongoing war in Ukraine has displaced millions inside and outside the country. Millions were left without homes, heating, or other necessities amid winter temperatures due to the large-scale damage and destruction of critical civilian infrastructure. Years of hostilities have profoundly affected the lives of millions across all regions, but particularly those remaining near the front-line – most of whom are older people, people with disabilities and limited mobility.”
While calling for donations that “can make a life-saving difference”, the UN stated: “Foreign aid isn’t just about generosity – it’s an investment in global stability and shared prosperity. Cutting it risks humanitarian crises and economic setbacks far beyond the immediate savings.”
