A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Somalia as U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze threatens the survival of millions of internally displaced people. The 90-day suspension has paralyzed critical aid operations across the Horn of Africa nation, where approximately three million people rely on foreign assistance for basic survival.
The impact is particularly severe in makeshift camps like Dooxdoox on Mogadishu’s outskirts, where eight thousand households face immediate shortages of essential supplies and services. USAID, which invested $369 million in Somalia in 2021, has been forced to issue stop-work orders to partner organizations, disrupting everything from emergency nutrition programs to gender-based violence support services.
The sudden halt has created a healthcare crisis, particularly affecting HIV patients and malnourished children. Local organizations like the Somali Young Doctors Association (SOYDA) are struggling to maintain critical services through volunteer health professionals and reduced operations. Camp residents, including 85-year-old Ruqiya Abdulle Ubeyd, express shock at the decision that has left vulnerable populations without access to medical care, shelter materials, and basic necessities.
The freeze threatens to destabilize Somalia’s fragile humanitarian infrastructure, which was already strained by ongoing conflicts and natural disasters. Healthcare providers are now forced to prioritize critical nutrition and hygiene programs while scaling back other essential services.
The suspension of aid, representing about 1% of the U.S. budget, has created what local leaders describe as an unprecedented void in support for one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.