Refugees in Garissa's Dadaab complex decry USAID funding cuts

Refugees at the Dadaab refugee complex in Garissa have raised concerns over recent USAID funding cuts, saying they are grappling with numerous challenges.

Speaking to journalists at Ifo 2 camp, they said the reduced funding has cut down their food rations, disrupting daily life and survival in the camps.

The cuts follow a freeze on US foreign aid, including USAID programmes, initiated by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, the day he assumed office.

The order has led to the suspension of existing aid programmes, with refugees among the hardest hit by the executive actions of President Trump’s administration.

Carrying placards, the refugees appealed to the international community to intervene and help restore the humanitarian support they have depended on for years since fleeing their country due to civil war.

Mohamed Abdille, a resident of the Ifo 2 camp, said the budget cuts that began taking effect earlier this year have drastically worsened their living conditions.

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“I have been a refugee for 33 years now. This is the only place I call home because I arrived here as a young boy. But the recent changes have brought us many challenges, and things could get even worse in the days ahead,” he said.
He noted that even before President Trump’s directive to halt funding, life in the camps was already challenging—but the cuts have now made it unbearable.

“The situation is extremely dire. The food rations we used to receive have been reduced, and accessing basic necessities such as water and healthcare has become a major problem,” he added.

Due to overcrowding in the camps, refugees are increasingly vulnerable to disease outbreaks. With hospitals now facing drug shortages following the funding cuts, many say fear and anxiety have spread across all the camps.

On Monday, hundreds of refugees from the four camps—Dagahaley, Hagadera, Ifo, and Ifo 2—gathered at Ifo 2 to voice their concern over the recent developments, which they say are already having a negative impact on their lives and livelihoods.

The refugees, who later staged a peaceful demonstration, described their protest as a cry for justice and survival.

“As we speak all the humanitarian services are down, we fear that the quality of education for our children in the refugee camps could be affected and the lack of teachers, these funding cuts have affected every aspect of our lives,” added Mohamed Abdi, another refugee who lives in Hagadera camp.

Leylah Abdirahman, the chairlady of Ifo 2 and a mother of eight said that healthcare and food sectors were the most affected.

She urged the government and the international community to intervene on their situation.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that nearly 13 million refugees could lose access to essential health services, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and malnutrition.

The World Food Programme has been forced to reduce food rations to just 40 per cent of the minimum required daily intake for refugees in Dadaab, a significant drop from previous levels.