The suspension of US humanitarian assistance has led to the closure of nearly 80% of the emergency food kitchens supporting people affected by Sudan’s ongoing civil war, the BBC reports.
More than 1,100 communal kitchens have been shut down, leaving close to two million people struggling to access food. The freeze stems from an executive order by former President Donald Trump, halting contributions from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days.
The kitchens, operated by grassroots volunteer groups called emergency response rooms, have been a lifeline for civilians caught in the conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and triggered famine in several regions.
Duaa Tariq, an organiser with the emergency response rooms, described the worsening crisis:
“People are knocking on the volunteers’ doors. People are screaming from hunger in the streets.”
While the US State Department issued an exemption for emergency food assistance, local groups say confusion persists over whether financial aid will resume. The kitchens rely on cash support to purchase food, and USAID previously provided 70-80% of this funding.
For many kitchens, the aid freeze has made it impossible to continue operations. Volunteers are attempting to obtain food on credit, but local resources are stretched thin.
Andrea Tracy, a former USAID official who now runs the Mutual Aid Sudan Coalition, said the funding freeze is a “huge setback” for local relief efforts. The coalition is working to raise private donations, but the gap left by USAID is substantial.
The move to suspend aid is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to review and restructure foreign assistance. The State Department said the process aims to ensure US aid “makes the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
However, the freeze has disrupted vital humanitarian channels. The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that while its existing Sudanese grants from USAID remain active, future funding remains uncertain.
The impact extends beyond Sudan’s borders. More than two million Sudanese refugees have fled to neighbouring countries like South Sudan, Chad, and Egypt. Aid agencies report severe resource shortages in refugee camps, where many families are surviving on a single meal a day.
Rania Dagesh, the WFP’s assistant executive director, described the deteriorating conditions:
“You see mothers trying to breastfeed, and there is nothing coming out of their breast.”
UN officials warn that reduced assistance will drive more people to embark on dangerous migration routes to the Gulf, Europe, and beyond.
With no ceasefire in sight and aid channels blocked, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening. Volunteers on the ground fear that without urgent international support, widespread starvation is inevitable.
