The world’s worst humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Sudan, a country ravaged by famine, civil war, and atrocities so severe that the U.S. government has labeled them genocide. The numbers are staggering. Tens of thousands dead, 11 million displaced, and an escalating famine that could be the deadliest in decades. However, in this time of crisis, rather than leading humanitarian relief efforts, the U.S. is pulling back aid. These cuts are not just a failure of compassion, they are a betrayal of the long-standing practice of American leadership in humanitarian aid.
The Trump administration has cut back crucial humanitarian aid at a time when Sudanese children are dying from malnutrition and disease. Programs that previously provided emergency food, medical care, and HIV treatment have been slashed, leaving the most vulnerable populations to fend for themselves. The consequences are already visible. Reports from aid workers indicate that orphaned children, previously sustained by U.S. assistance, are dying as their access to medicine disappears.The aid that once shielded them from the devastating effects of malnutrition and disease is being withdrawn, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Since the early 2000s, the U.S. has played a pivotal role in reducing the death toll in crisis zones. Programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), launched by president George W. Bush, saved millions of lives from AIDS. But now, decisions made in Washington, decisions influenced by billionaires and political maneuvering, are leading to deaths that could have been prevented.
The inaction does not stop at the withdrawal of humanitarian aid. Adding to this moral failure is the U.S. government’s refusal to hold the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accountable for arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a brutal militia that participates in mass rape, ethnic cleansing, and massacres. The militia has also besieged refugee camps, cutting off food and medical aid to desperate populations.
Despite overwhelming evidence of the UAE’s complicity, both the Trump administration and the Biden administration before it have remained silent. Why? Because calling out a strategic ally for its role in genocide would be politically inconvenient. This moral cowardice has enabled the RSF to continue its reign of terror with impunity. While America stays silent, Sudan has been crying out for aid, filing reports to the International Court of Justice accusing the UAE of being complicit.
Thankfully, the situation in Sudan is not hopeless. A generation ago, international pressure and U.S. assistance mitigated the horrors of the Darfur genocide. Today, similar efforts could prevent mass starvation, provide medical aid to the sick, and hold perpetrators accountable. But this requires the political will to act.
Congress must immediately restore funding to lifesaving aid programs and demand accountability from allies who enable war crimes. The American people must refuse to accept their government’s role in this crisis. Peaceful protests or outcry on social media are viable actions for the everyday person. Silence is complicity.
