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'How can we survive...’: US aid cuts hit Ethiopia's fragile Tigray region | N18G

Aid agencies in Ethiopia's war-affected Tigray region have been forced to halt food distribution to millions due to restrictions imposed by the U.S. Trump administration. The suspension stems from the breakdown of the USAID payment system, which has left agencies without funds to cover fuel, transportation, and staff costs, despite existing food stockpiles. Tigray Disaster Risk Management Commissioner, Gebrehiwot Gebrezgiabher, warned that the cut will put 1.2 to 1.4 million people at risk. Displaced residents, like 76-year-old Haile Tsege, express fears of dying from hunger, with over 2.4 million people in Tigray dependent on U.S. humanitarian aid. Ethiopia, the largest recipient of U.S. aid in sub-Saharan Africa, received $1.8 billion in 2023, supporting food, health, education, and refugee programs. However, most of these programs have been halted, USAID staff placed on administrative leave, and recovery efforts in Tigray severely disrupted. The U.S. Embassy has not responded to inquiries.

first published: Mar 13, 2025 07:00 pm