WFP Halts Aid for 650,000 Malnourished Women, Children in Ethiopia

The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended malnutrition treatment for 650,000 women and children in Ethiopia due to severe funding shortages, putting millions more at risk of losing access to vital food and nutrition aid. Over 10 million Ethiopians face acute food insecurity, including those displaced by conflict, extreme weather, and refugees from neighboring Sudan. WFP had already reduced food rations for vulnerable groups but now faces a breaking point, with 3.6 million people at risk of losing all assistance if funding is not secured by June. The agency's planned nutrition programs for 2025 have been curtailed, and humanitarian operations are further challenged by ongoing conflict and insecurity in regions like Amhara. WFP relies on international donors, including the United States, but recent funding cuts and delays have severely impacted its ability to provide life-saving support. The situation remains critical, with high malnutrition rates and fears of worsening conditions if urgent financial support is not received.