The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned that Africa’s aid is strained. It says rising fuel prices, shipping delays, and supply chain disruptions sparked by the Iran war have begun choking life-saving services in crisis-affected countries.
Africa’s aid: Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia hit hard
The Africa aid group said the unfolding logistics crisis poses an escalating humanitarian threat. This is compounding last year’s drastic cuts to humanitarian funding and carrying life-threatening consequences for millions of vulnerable people.
The group said fuel, which is vital for powering hospitals, ambulances, and supply chains, is becoming scarce and more expensive. This has put humanitarian responses at risk.
“This is how a global crisis becomes a humanitarian one. Fuel shortages and supply delays don’t stay contained, they ripple outward, shutting down services, driving up food prices, and cutting off access to care,” said Bob Kitchen, IRC vice president for emergencies.
The IRC stated that across Africa, those ripples are already hitting hard. In Nigeria, fuel prices have jumped by nearly 50%, raising the cost of running generators that power clinics and forcing mobile health teams to reduce coverage.
Similarly, in Sudan, pharmaceutical supplies worth $130,000 intended to support about 20,000 people remain stuck in Dubai. Hence, disruptions to shipping routes delay deliveries to a country already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In Somalia, shipments of ready-to-use therapeutic food used to treat severe child malnutrition are stranded in India due to shipping delays. This has put more than 1,000 children at risk of missing life-saving treatment.
Additionally, in Kenya, fuel shortages have led to rationing, affecting operations in refugee camps such as Kakuma and Dadaab. Reduced diesel supplies disrupt power for critical medical equipment, emergency care, and ambulance services.
Meanwhile, similar challenges are emerging in Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is where fuel shortages and price spikes restrict field movements and aid delivery.
Funding collapse worsens as shipping delays trigger food shocks
The IRC noted that disruptions in the Middle East and Red Sea are forcing ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. This has added weeks to delivery times and driven up costs.
For households already struggling with conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters, the consequences prove dire.
“Fuel shocks are pushing up the cost of food and basic goods, while rising fertiliser prices threaten the next planting seasons across multiple regions. For families already on the brink, this means eating less, earning less, and facing even fewer options to cope,” the IRC added.
However, these disruptions echo patterns seen in other conflicts, where war far from affected regions triggers cascading consequences. Similarly, conflicts in the Middle East have historically triggered oil price spikes that ripple through economies and humanitarian systems alike.
The IRC’s warning arrives as the humanitarian sector faces a sharp contraction in funding, limiting its ability to absorb new shocks.
Global humanitarian funding fell by more than 60% last year. This is a collapse driven mainly by steep cuts from the United States, with EU donors accounting for a smaller share of roughly one-quarter.
According to the UN, funds covered only about 60% of estimated needs by mid-2025. Without swift intervention, the IRC however warns the impact of disruptions could escalate quickly, reducing access to healthcare and deepening poverty across already vulnerable regions.
Meanwhile, Africa’s long-standing dependence on foreign aid remains one of the continent’s most significant weaknesses, hindering true independence and self-sufficiency.
Thank you to the United States 🇺🇸 for your generous $200M contribution to the #Sudan Humanitarian Fund.
This will help rapidly scale up life-saving aid across Sudan by strengthening supply & logistics, expanding cash assistance & supporting critical services.#OCHAThanks pic.twitter.com/ktr8dY163G
— UN OCHA Sudan (@UNOCHA_Sudan) April 2, 2026