By Abdullahi Lukman
Donald Trump administration’s halting of foreign aid and suspension of funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has had devastating effects on humanitarian operations worldwide, particularly in Ethiopia, where millions depend on assistance to survive.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP), historically the largest recipient of U.S. humanitarian funding, has been especially affected, leading to significant setbacks in food distribution and resilience efforts.
The consequences in Ethiopia have been profound.
In 2023, a six-month freeze in U.S. food aid severely impacted vulnerable populations, especially in regions already suffering from food insecurity due to conflict and climate change.
In response to the funding suspension, the WFP was forced to shutter offices and reduce its operations, leaving communities in critical need of support.
PBS NewsHour correspondents Willem Marx and Edward Kiernan reported from across Ethiopia, documenting the toll of these funding gaps.
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In the Somali region, successive droughts—worsened by climate change—have devastated livestock herders, many of whom have been forced to switch to crop farming with the help of aid programs. But without consistent U.S. funding, these adaptation efforts remain fragile.
In rural areas, U.S.-supported programs that offer agricultural training and school feeding initiatives have helped build food resilience, but many of these services have been scaled back or paused entirely.
Local farmers, already struggling with erratic weather and violence, have seen their livelihoods further endangered by the aid suspension.
The impact is particularly acute in conflict-affected regions like Tigray and Afar.
The brutal civil war that ended in 2022 left tens of thousands dead and disrupted food access across northern Ethiopia. Corruption and mismanagement during the conflict led to the diversion of food aid, prompting the U.S. to suspend its support.
The fallout has been severe, with hunger-related deaths reported amid widespread shortages.
As uncertainty continues over whether the Trump administration will reinstate emergency waivers for food aid, millions remain at risk.
The reliance of Ethiopian communities on consistent international support, especially from the U.S., underscores the fragile line between survival and starvation in regions wracked by instability and environmental stress.
