Humanitarian aid for over 2 million people at risk as Danish Refugee Council faces suspension of U.S. funding

The U.S. Government. is DRC’s second-largest donor, contributing 20% of our global 2025 budget. While 80% of our programming remains unaffected and continues as planned, these unexpected decisions are disrupting critical funding that directly supports displaced populations and communities in some of the world’s most devastated regions, from Afghanistan and Sudan to Yemen, Ukraine, and beyond. 

The suspension of U.S.-funded humanitarian work has had immediate and severe consequences with long-term effects. As a result, over two million people are at risk of losing access to essential and life-saving services provided by DRC. For example, in Nigeria and Cameroon, thousands of children and their families will soon lose the daily treatment they rely on for acute malnutrition and overall food assistance provided by DRC. In Afghanistan, we had to stop water supply projects in several provinces, impacting thousands. In war-torn Sudan, over 30,000 people will lose the ability to pay for basic needs, while nearly 20,000 will no longer have access to water and sanitation. In South Sudan, DRC supports almost 180,000 internally displaced people across 10 camps, but we can no longer maintain critical infrastructure, including flood prevention efforts. In Ukraine DRC had to stop the clearing of 350,000 sqm of land contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnances – the equivalent of 50 football fields.  

Together, these examples underscore the urgent need to restore funding and support the continuity of humanitarian aid, particularly as conflicts continue to escalate and the number of displaced people only grows.  

Over the years, U.S. leadership and generosity has saved countless lives in time of crises. We urge the U.S. government to honor its funding promises and reduce the worldwide impact of the suspension of the U.S. foreign aid system. 

While the full impact remains uncertain, as the U.S. government reviews their aid and development priorities, we are collaborating with a vast network of donors to mitigate the effects on communities in dire need. Although we are pursuing other funding alternatives, DRC remains financially stable and committed to its mission. 

However, this funding freeze jeopardizes the work of some of DRC’s dedicated staff and local partner organizations. Despite our efforts to implement mitigating measures, some staff affected by the U.S. decision had to halt the delivery of assistance to communities. Last week, during a global staff meeting, it was communicated that around 2,000 staff could be impacted. Senior leadership is actively working to minimize this number as much as possible. 

With 122 million people displaced worldwide DRC’s own forecasts predicts an increase of nearly 7 million more displaced people by the end of 2025. As a rights-based and principled organization, we are committed to providing both immediate emergency responses and long-term solutions for displaced populations, ensuring aid reaches all those in need. We remain steadfast in our mission to support vulnerable communities across the globe.