GENEVA, 22nd April, 2025 (WAM) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) today warned of worsening hunger and malnutrition in Ethiopia, as growing humanitarian needs strain resources and over 10 million people face acute food insecurity, including 3 million internally displaced due to conflict and extreme weather.

Speaking at a virtual press briefing in Geneva, Zlatan Milii, WFP Country Director in Ethiopia, said malnutrition rates are alarmingly high, with 4.4 million pregnant women and young children in urgent need of treatment.

He noted that Ethiopia is facing a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, with hunger and malnutrition intensifying due to a lethal combination of conflict, climate shocks, economic instability and displacement.

Milii stated that the rate of child wasting has surpassed the 15 percent emergency threshold in several regions across the country.

He warned that the crisis is deepening as refugees continue to arrive from neighbouring countries amid worsening security conditions, describing the situation as a deadly mix of conflict, climate crises, economic disruption and mass displacement.

Over the past 18 months, WFP was forced to reduce food rations by 60 percent for around 800,000 refugees, and has also cut assistance by 80 percent for displaced persons and other vulnerable groups in Ethiopia over the past nine months. Milisic warned that food and cash aid could be completely halted by June unless new funding is secured.

He added that WFP was also forced to suspend malnutrition treatment services this week for around 650,000 women and children due to depleted food supplies and financial support, warning that more than 3.6 million of the most vulnerable people could lose humanitarian assistance in the coming weeks.

Milii called on the international community and donors to act urgently and provide US$222 million before September to ensure continuity of humanitarian operations.