Mercy Ships stay on course
The two hospital ships can continue their life-changing healthcare work in Africa, even though USAID has halted all humanitarian aid
This is thanks to dedicated private donors and supporters. The U.S. aid suspension is sending shockwaves through humanitarian organisations responsible for relief, healthcare, and development worldwide. The abrupt halt means that millions of people will no longer receive food, water, medicine, education, and development support that they rely on to survive. After all, USAID accounted for 43 per cent of global development assistance. However, the sudden stop in U.S. aid does not directly affect Mercy Ships’ healthcare work on the two hospital ships, Africa Mercy in Madagascar and Global Mercy in Sierra Leone. This is because the organisation does not receive funding from USAID but is entirely financed through contributions from foundations, businesses, churches, associations, and private donors. “It is heartbreaking that millions of people in poor countries will now find it even harder to survive and get by. At the same time, we at Mercy Ships are grateful that we can stay the course in these turbulent times and continue providing free surgeries to the most vulnerable. We are able to do this because our entire financial model is based on gifts, donations, and voluntary efforts,” says Charlotte Nørholm Dyhr, General Secretary of Mercy Ships Denmark.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the people who faithfully support us year after year, allowing us to remain independent of sudden political fluctuations. It is the many ‘small streams that make a mighty river’, and together with larger contributions from foundations and businesses, they ensure that we can help people in need in countries where specialised surgery is scarce or simply not available.”
Mercy Ships is an international organisation headquartered in the U.S. with 17 offices worldwide, including in Denmark. In 2024 alone, the organisation’s two hospital ships performed no fewer than 4,746 surgical procedures and 13,312 dental treatments and operations.
The ships Africa Mercy and Global Mercy also provide training for local doctors and nurses. Additionally, local communities in Madagascar and Sierra Leone receive education on good hygiene practices and basic healthcare.
