Thousands of displaced people in Somalia are struggling. They are unsure if they will get food or medicine after U.S. President Donald Trump froze most U.S. foreign aid.
The freeze will last 90 days after Trump’s Jan. 20 order. This move may collapse the aid system that helps millions of vulnerable people. The U.S. provides more foreign aid than any other country, spending $60 billion in 2023.
Somalia’s Crisis Worsens
Somalia depends on foreign aid to support its 3 million displaced people, according to the United Nations. The country also faces drought, food shortages, and extremist violence.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spent $369 million in Somalia in 2021. This money funded sanitation, food, and emergency care. Now, many of these programs are shutting down.
Aid Cuts Impact Families
Ayan Ali Hussein, who runs a camp for displaced families, said the aid freeze caused an immediate stop to key services. Now, there is no treatment for malnourished children. Women who faced violence can no longer get counseling, protection, or medical care.
Her camp supports 8,000 families. Without help, they lack shelter and food. “This has left a huge void in our lives,” Hussein said.
Elderly and Sick at Risk
Ruqiya Abdulle Ubeyd, 85, is a mother of eight. She was shocked by Trump’s decision. “I ask the U.S. government to restore aid to the vulnerable,” she said. The freeze also affects HIV patients and others who need urgent medical care.
Dr. Abdiqani Sheikh Omar runs the Somali Young Doctors Association (SOYDA). His group provides medical help in the camps. He said the funding cut is destabilizing their work. Somalia was expecting $125 million from USAID in 2025. That money is now uncertain.
Doctors Struggle to Help
SOYDA is prioritizing nutrition and hygiene programs. But many health workers may lose their jobs. “We rely on volunteer doctors now,” Dr. Omar said. Hussein Abikar, a father of five, said SOYDA was his only option for medical care. “If our children got sick, we went to SOYDA,” he said. “Now, there is nowhere else to go.”
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