The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning about rapidly worsening food insecurity and malnutrition across Ethiopia, where conflict, displacement, drought risks and soaring food prices are driving a deepening humanitarian crisis.

According to WFP, malnutrition levels have surpassed emergency thresholds nationwide, with 4.4 million women and young children in urgent need of treatment.

The crisis is being compounded by regional instability. Ethiopia currently hosts over 1 million refugees, primarily from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, many of whom have arrived with immediate food needs. Insecurity in the Amhara region is also disrupting humanitarian operations, posing direct risks to WFP staff and partners and significantly increasing operational costs.

WFP said it plans to provide food and nutritional assistance to 6.8 million people in 2025, but warned that its response capacity is being critically undermined by a severe lack of funding.

The agency cautioned that without urgent financial support, 2.6 million of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable people could lose access to life-saving assistance in the coming months. WFP expects to receive just over half of the funding it secured last year and is urgently appealing for US$230 million to sustain operations through March 2026.

“Without immediate resources, we face the very real possibility of cutting essential food and nutrition support to millions who rely on us for survival,” WFP said.

Humanitarian organizations continue to call for swift international action to prevent further deterioration in one of Africa’s largest and most complex food crises. (ILKHA)