WFP: Funding shortfall forces halt to malnutrition treatment programmes in Ethiopia
More than 10 million people in Ethiopia are gravely short of food, including 3 million displaced by conflict and extreme weather conditions, as well as refugees from war-torn neighbouring Sudan, according to the WFP.
The World Food Programme (WFP) suspended malnutrition treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children in Ethiopia this week due to severe funding shortages, the UN agency said, with millions more at risk of losing access to aid.
WFP gets financing from 15-20 donors, including the United States, but many of them have cut funding this year, said Zlatan Milisic, WFP Country Director in Ethiopia. The agency has received exemptions from US President Donald Trump's aid freeze that has disrupted humanitarian work around the world, he added, but little for 2025 so far.
More To Read
- TPLF accuses Ethiopia, electoral agency of undermining Pretoria deal, warns peace at risk
- Ethiopia repatriates 121 citizens from Myanmar scam compounds, over 700 still trapped
- Ethiopia expects preliminary deal on IMF review within days, finance minister says
- Ethiopia, Morocco defense cooperation eyes cybersecurity, AI, and defense industries
- Ethio Telecom sells just 10.7pc of shares in IPO limited to Ethiopian citizens
- Over 10 million Ethiopians face hunger as WFP warns of aid cuts amid funding crisis
More than 10 million people in Ethiopia are gravely short of food, including 3 million displaced by conflict and extreme weather conditions, as well as refugees from war-torn neighbouring Sudan, according to the WFP.
Milisic said WFP had already reduced rations in recent months but that its operations were now at "breaking point" due to severe underfunding, forcing more drastic measures.
"We've been left no choice but to this week suspend treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children — simply because we've run out of commodities and funding," he told a Geneva press briefing by video from Addis Ababa.
A WFP spokesperson later added that those cut off were in various locations, including the northern regions of Tigray and Afar, and that the UN agency is actively seeking funding to purchase more supplies to resume treatments.
Around 3.6 million people could lose access to assistance, including some being treated for malnutrition, if more funding is not received by June, Milisic added.
"I would hope that we will get the resources and put in place measures to really do our best to assist them. But if they don't receive assistance, we will have serious consequences."
Ethiopia's food crisis has worsened in recent years as a result of a 2020-22 civil war in Tigray. The country also faced the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades in 2022.
WFP previously warned of a return of drought conditions to the region this year.
Top Stories Today
- Lake Basin Board official Ebel Ochieng detained for 23 days in probe into MP Were's murder
- Wetang’ula flags Finance Bill 2025 as urgent, directs committee to fast-track review
- Four bandits killed, six AK-47s recovered in security raid in Meru
- Kenyans warned to brace for hot days, cold nights this week
- UDA to conduct repeat grassroots elections in Mombasa, Tana River on May 17
- China-US tariff truce eases tensions, but with minimal impact on Africa
- Bobi Wine presses EU to act on Uganda’s human rights violations
- Deputy Governors seek constitutional changes to have clear mandates
- Funding shortfall leaves Somali women, children facing death
- City Hall to freeze accounts, auction properties over Sh50bn arrears
- Sh40.7bn budget shortfall threatens military recruitment, operations
- Kenya’s security at risk as regional instability grows, warns NIS boss
- Supreme Court Judge Ouko warns of eroding public trust due to case delays
- Palestine lifts ban on Al Jazeera's operations in Palestinian territories
- Kenya aims to quadruple tea exports to China by 2030
- KNEC announces July, August deadlines for 2025 CBC assessments
- Kenyan court orders extradition of ex-Afghan deputy speaker wanted in US for drug trafficking
- WFP warns 52 million people face severe hunger crisis in West and Central Africa
- Nairobi County admits building violations by city's high-rise buildings
- Kenya, Dominican Republic seal pact to boost Haiti Mission support
