The U.S. pause on foreign aid has significantly affected humanitarian efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where operations last year were largely dependent on U.S. funding, according to the top U.N. aid official in the country.

Bruno Lemarquis, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the DRC, said that in 2024, the U.N. humanitarian response plan for the country received $1.3 billion, with $910 million coming from the United States. Since U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid last month, several critical programs have been forced to shut down.

Lemarquis stated that the heavy reliance on U.S. funding has led to the closure of emergency health, emergency shelter, and coordination efforts within his own office. The funding crisis comes at a time when an escalating insurgency in eastern Congo has displaced hundreds of thousands and raised concerns of a broader regional conflict. The pause in U.S. aid has left U.N. agencies and international humanitarian organizations struggling to determine whether to continue their work without financial assurance.

He noted that some programs have recently begun receiving U.S. approval to resume, but uncertainty remains. Trump’s decision to halt foreign aid contributions for review was announced immediately after his return to office on January 20. His administration is assessing whether U.S. aid aligns with his “America First” policy. However, humanitarian officials have warned that the lack of clarity in the review process has created confusion and financial risks for organizations operating in crisis zones like the DRC.

Despite these challenges, Lemarquis emphasized that humanitarian groups remain committed to continuing their efforts to assist those in need.