U.S. Halts Critical Rape Survivor Aid in Congo Amid Surge in Violence, Leaving Thousands Without Emergency Care

Amid escalating conflict and sexual violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has quietly terminated a key humanitarian contract intended to supply emergency post-rape kits to thousands of survivors, according to United Nations officials and leading aid organizations.

The decision, which has not been previously reported, halted the distribution of approximately 100,000 emergency kits containing HIV prevention medication, antibiotics, and emergency contraception. These kits are considered vital in conflict zones where rape has long been used as a weapon of war.

The contract, managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was designed to support more than 2,000 health facilities across Congo’s war-ravaged eastern provinces throughout the year. Its abrupt cancellation has left clinics without critical supplies at a time when violence—and sexual violence in particular—is intensifying.

Health workers and aid agencies have expressed alarm over the impact of the funding cut. “When you look into the eyes of a rape victim, you get the impression that her gaze is dead,” said one healthcare provider in South Kivu, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. “You never forget standing in front of that person and telling them you don’t have any medicine, that you can’t help them, and asking them to leave.”

The cancellation occurred after President Trump ordered a 90-day suspension of foreign aid in January, part of a broader review of U.S. spending abroad. Concurrently, USAID halted all new grants, including a large-scale contract to replenish post-rape kits. According to aid officials, the decision was made as billionaire Elon Musk, then heading a White House initiative to streamline government operations, pushed for the shutdown of several foreign aid programs.

Massive Needs, Disrupted Pipeline

The United Nations has documented more than 67,000 cases of rape since renewed fighting broke out earlier this year, with many more likely to have gone unreported. In January, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized key cities in the east, intensifying a decades-long conflict that has left millions displaced and vulnerable.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which coordinates post-rape treatment in Congo, described the situation as dire. “When USAID decided to terminate the large funding they had for this American NGO, the organization immediately ceased all operations,” said Noemi Dalmonte, UNFPA’s deputy representative in Kinshasa. “The pipeline was disrupted at a critical moment.”

A UNFPA internal document shared with Reuters indicated that only 7 of the 34 health zones in North Kivu currently have minimal remaining stock of post-rape kits. Fewer than 25% of survivors are receiving any support, and just 13% are accessing life-saving HIV medication within the essential 72-hour window after an assault.

“These kits are more than medical supplies—they offer reassurance to women who have suffered the unimaginable,” said Amadou Bocoum, country director for CARE International. “They help prevent AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and other infections that could otherwise ruin or end a survivor’s life.”

Global Repercussions and Funding Gap

While the U.S. State Department has stated its continued commitment to supporting life-saving international programs, the contract for post-rape kits in Congo remains officially cancelled. The Trump administration has consistently argued that the United States bears a disproportionate burden in global aid and has urged allies to contribute more.

In 2024, the U.S. disbursed $65 billion in foreign assistance—nearly half through USAID. Now, in the absence of American funding, UNFPA and its partners are urgently seeking to raise $35 million to fill the gap, turning to private donors such as the Gates Foundation and Western governments.

The humanitarian fallout is already visible. According to UNFPA’s findings, the termination of the aid program is leading to an increase in HIV infections, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality—deepening the suffering of some of the world’s most vulnerable women.

As international aid groups struggle to respond, many warn that the decision sets a troubling precedent for the politicization of essential humanitarian support—especially for survivors of gender-based violence in conflict zones.