Soaring demand at food banks across Africa thanks to massive aid cuts

A woman receives a food package from Food Banking Kenya, which has reported soaring demand in the wake of cuts to USAID - (Food Banking Kenya)

Food banks across Africa have told The Independent that cuts to foreign aid – primarily those by Donald Trump in the US, but including the UK – are helping to significantly drive up the number of people needing their help, therefore reducing the amount of supplies they can hand out.

Food Forward South Africa said that demand for its food services has soared since the start of the year and is expected to increase further still as grants from USAID run out in the coming months, while Food Banking Kenya has revealed that demand is up 300 per cent this year, far outstripping what they are able to provide. In Nigeria, the Lagos Food Bank is another that is expecting shortages thanks to US aid cuts.