The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Bruno Lemarquis, voiced serious concerns on Tuesday regarding the U.S. administration’s recent decision to halt foreign aid.
He indicated that this action has significantly disrupted the operations of various UN agencies and international NGOs in the region, with some programs being entirely suspended.
In a video briefing from Kinshasa, Lemarquis underscored the critical humanitarian situation in Goma, where vital services such as water and electricity remain largely inoperative.
He reported that hospitals in Goma are overwhelmed, mortuaries are filled to capacity, and medical personnel are struggling to cope with an unprecedented surge of war-related injuries amid shortages of medical supplies.
The threat of epidemics, particularly cholera and Mpox, is alarmingly elevated, and food prices have skyrocketed, resulting in a growing number of individuals in need of food assistance each day.
Lemarquis pointed out that delivering aid to Goma is one of the most pressing challenges currently faced, as the Goma airport, which is the main humanitarian access point, remains closed for various reasons.
He informed journalists that the DRC was the largest recipient of U.S. humanitarian aid in 2024, receiving $910 million out of a total of $1.3 billion, which constitutes 70 percent of the aid.
The humanitarian official stressed that the heavy dependence on U.S. funding has compelled many programs to cease operations, adversely impacting emergency health services, shelter provisions, and coordination efforts within his office.
He noted that although smaller donors are making efforts to assist, their contributions fall short of addressing the extensive needs, complicating the effort to mitigate a 70 percent reliance on a single donor.
