Ankara: The UN World Food Program (WFP) warned Friday that refugees in Ethiopia face worsening hunger as it reduced food rations due to funding shortages. The food agency was forced to reduce rations for 780,000 refugees in 27 camps across Ethiopia from 60% to 40%, leaving each person with food assistance equivalent to less than 1,000 calories a day, a WFP statement said. It said only 70,000 refugees who recently fled conflict in neighboring Sudan and South Sudan will keep full rations for six months, as hunger and malnutrition remain high among new arrivals.

According to Anadolu Agency, WFP Ethiopia Country Director Zlatan Milisic warned that without more funds, the reduction in rations could lead to a complete cessation of food distributions, endangering the lives of those currently assisted. He emphasized the immediacy of the crisis, stating, "This isn't a future risk. It's happening right now." Milisic highlighted the severe impact of ration cuts, noting that each reduction results in increased hunger and desperation among affected families.

The WFP also highlighted an urgent need for new funding to prevent a shortage of specialized food supplies for malnourished children and mothers, which could run out by December. This shortage threatens support for one million malnourished children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. The agency is calling for $230 million to sustain operations over the next six months, following an April appeal that temporarily averted a crisis in nutrition support.

Since the last ration cut in May 2023, the gap between humanitarian needs and available funding has continued to widen. Despite these challenges, the WFP has provided assistance to 4.7 million vulnerable people in Ethiopia since January, through various programs including food, nutrition, and school meal initiatives. However, funding shortages and insecurity, especially in the Amhara region, have disrupted these efforts.

In addition to managing these challenges, the WFP is collaborating with the Ethiopian government to aid 700,000 people in the drought- and flood-affected southeastern region of Somalia. The agency is stretching limited food supplies to maintain full rations in these areas. The financial crisis faced by the WFP has been exacerbated by a significant reduction in contributions from its largest donor, the US. Under President Donald Trump, the US cut nearly all contributions and dismantled the US aid agency, severely impacting humanitarian efforts across the region. Historically, the US had been a major contributor, providing nearly $4.5 billion in 2024, which was more than four times that of the next-largest donor, Germany, and accounted for nearly half of all historic funding.