Faith Nyasuguta
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has announced that it may have to suspend crucial U.S. funded aid programs in nearly 20 countries due to significant funding cuts from its major donors. This decision is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in nations affected by conflict, disasters, and displacement.
In an official statement, the NRC clarified, “NRC has not suspended all aid work in the almost 20 impacted countries; rather, our work in those countries supported by U.S. funding has been impacted, to a greater or lesser extent.” The organization attributed this to the “suspension, partial withholding, or lack of reimbursement” of U.S. funds crucial for its global humanitarian operations.
The funding crisis follows the halt and eventual shutdown of USAID, which is heavily financed by the United States and has been a key donor for NRC’s projects. The U.S., along with Norway, the EU, Sweden, and Germany, ranks among the NRC’s largest contributors. In 2024 alone, the U.S. provided nearly 20% of the organization’s funding, around $150 million, helping NRC reach approximately 1.6 million people through various humanitarian initiatives.
The NRC expressed its deep concern over the unprecedented funding cuts, emphasizing that it is the first time in its 79-year history that such abrupt discontinuation of aid has occurred. “We have never experienced such an abrupt discontinuation of aid funding from any of our many donor nations, intergovernmental organizations, or private donor agencies,” the organization stated.
The consequences of these cuts are expected to be severe, particularly for crisis-affected populations. NRC warned of a suspension of aid distribution to 57,000 people in Ukraine and inevitable staff layoffs, including in Afghanistan, where humanitarian workers provide crucial support to vulnerable women and families.
While the NRC welcomed a temporary U.S. waiver for life-saving aid, it stressed that the organization cannot benefit from it unless past payments are resumed.
Impact on Africa
The NRC operates in approximately 40 countries worldwide, 18 of which are in Africa. It delivers essential humanitarian aid and protection to displaced populations, focusing on six key areas: food security, education, shelter, legal assistance, protection from violence, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The funding cuts are expected to drastically impact vulnerable communities across Africa. In Burkina Faso, for example, the NRC is the only organization providing clean water to 300,000 people in the blockaded city of Djibo. Additionally, the agency supports nearly 500 bakeries in Darfur, Sudan, which provide subsidized bread to hundreds of thousands facing hunger.
As of May 2024, NRC was active in countries including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The NRC’s withdrawal or reduction of aid in these regions could have catastrophic consequences, particularly in areas heavily dependent on international assistance for survival. The organization urged international donors to reconsider the funding cuts to prevent further suffering among vulnerable populations.
The situation highlights the far-reaching consequences of international policy changes on humanitarian aid and the urgent need for sustainable funding solutions to support global humanitarian efforts.
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