The global food program interrupts aid for 650,000 women and children – Liberation
This is the end of a humanitarian aid Precious for more than half a million people. The World Food Program (PAM) announced on Tuesday, April 22, having to interrupt aid in Ethiopia in May for 650,000 women and children with malnutrition, due to the cuts in international aid.
This situation « Could be » A question of life or death For many people, alerted the director of PAM in Ethiopia, Zlatan Milisic. « So we need emergency aid »he added. Without this support3.6 million people will no longer have access « In the coming weeks » UN Food Aid warned the UN organization in a statement.
The WFP planned to provide vital nutritional assistance to two million mothers and children in 2025. « The time has come to remind the world, to our donors and others that the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is not very good and that it will even deteriorate if we do not provide the necessary assistance »added Zlatan Milisic, in a call for international aid.
In addition to stopping aid programs under the aegis of the American Development Agency (USAID) decided by Donald Trump when he returned to the White House, several Western countries have cut in their expenses in this area.
These clear cuts intervene while Ethiopia, giant of East Africa of around 130 million inhabitants, is confronted with many challenges. A bloody civil war which opposed the federal forces to rebels ravaged between November 2020 and November 2022 the northern region of the Tiger, killing at least 600,000 people. Armed conflicts are still held in the two most populous regions of the country, AMHARA and Oromia. One million people, out of a population of around 6 million before the war, are still inappropriate.
Ethiopia also faces an influx of refugees from border countries, notably Sudan, confronted since April 2023 with a civil war, and from South Sudan, prey to chronic instability since its independence.
The landlocked country of the Horn of Africa is also faced with intense episodes of drought, especially in the Somali region. « Current conflicts, regional instability, trips, extreme weather conditions and economic shocks have left more than 10 million people faced with hunger and malnutrition »underlined the UN agency.
Despite growing needs, WFP « Come to receive just over half of last year’s financing for its Ethiopia operations ». The UN agency is faced with a « Financing deficit of $ 222 million (1.9 million euros) Between April and September 2025 ”she alerted.
A total of 17 countries provides Aid to WFP in Ethiopia, said Zlatan Milisic, saying hoping that the United States will soon take on « Important decisions for help and assistance in 2025 ».
According to a report published last week by the organization of economic cooperation and development, « The international aid provided by public donors decreased by 7.1 % in real terms compared to 2023 ». According to the OECD, « This is the first drop after five consecutive years of increase ».
A decrease that the OECD explains « Through a decline in contributions to international organizations, as well as by flexibility in Ukraine aid, a drop in humanitarian aid and a reduction in expenses devoted to the reception of refugees in donor countries ».
