Cash Relief: Middle East Crisis Price Shock in Africa
The Iran war is raising prices for the world’s poorest. Send cash now.
When fuel prices spike, families in extreme poverty feel it first.
The conflict that began February 28th has disrupted oil and fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20% of global oil supply. The knock-on effects are hitting the countries where we work hard and fast.
Crude oil went from $69 a barrel in February to $104 in March. Urea — the most widely used synthetic nitrogen fertilizer — is up roughly 50%, with spring planting underway across East Africa.
These impacts are now being felt in the countries where GiveDirectly works:
- Kenya is seeing acute fuel shortages at stations across the country. Farmers report tractors sitting idle during planting season as diesel runs out.
- Malawi raised petrol prices 34% and diesel 35% in a single regulatory adjustment. In a landlocked country where nearly everything moves by truck, that’s an immediate food price problem.
- Mozambique imports roughly 80% of its fuel through the Strait of Hormuz. They’re preparing for price hikes of their own, with panic buying already causing supply strain.
- Rwanda, Uganda, DRC are all landlocked and depend on ports in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam for fuel. With no petroleum tankers on schedule at either port for weeks, all three face compounding shortages if the conflict continues.
Why cash, why now
Families living on a few dollars a day don’t have a buffer. When food costs more, they eat less. When transport costs more, they can’t get to work or a clinic. Cash gives them options.
When prices spike, in-kind aid — food shipments, supply kits — faces the same supply chain problems everyone else does. Cash moves differently. It goes directly to a recipient’s mobile money account. They spend it on what they actually need, when they need it. We’ve delivered to over 2 million people across 15 countries. We know how to move fast.
We’re delivering cash right now to families across Kenya, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Your donation will support those cash transfers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where does my donation go?
Donations through this page support GiveDirectly’s ongoing programs in Kenya, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda — sending cash directly to people living in extreme poverty. Your donation funds our core work of getting unconditional cash to the world’s poorest families, who are now facing a price crisis. We are continuing to scope a separate emergency response to the Middle East crisis.
Who receives the cash?
Families living in extreme poverty in the countries where we operate, identified through our standard enrollment process using poverty data.
How much does each family receive?
Transfer sizes vary by program. See our website’s country pages for details on our current programs.
What is GiveDirectly?
We’re a nonprofit that lets you send money directly to the world’s poorest, no strings attached. In the last decade, we’ve delivered cash to over 2 million people across 15 countries, and we research the impacts it can have for families in need.
What if I’d like to make a major gift?
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more.
If you’re giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign, but your gift may not be tax-deductible. Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org with any questions or for more information on ways to give.