Ethiopia emergency

The World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have scaled up operations since the Government announced a humanitarian truce in March, transporting over 100,000 mt of humanitarian supplies to the Tigray Region since convoys restarted. To reach millions in need and maximize deliveries across all three regions, the opening of two additional corridors (Kombolcha-Mekelle and Gondar-Tigray) is essential.

US$194 million is urgently needed to rapidly scale up WFP’s operations in northern Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, the country is experiencing the driest conditions recorded since 1981, with severe drought leaving an estimated 7.4 million people across the country facing severe hunger in the first quarter of 2022.

The shortages of water and pasture are devastating livelihoods, forcing families from their homes across the Somali, Oromia, Sidama, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ regions in the south and southeast.

The seasonal gu rains in March and April were far below normal and did not replenish water resources. As a result, the food insecurity situation is expected to persist due to an insufficient harvest.

Close to 300,000 people have migrated in search of water and pasture for their livestock – but at least 2.1 million livestock have already perished and another 10 million are at risk. Also, more than half a million students have been missing school – either due to school closures or because their families need them to help generate income or care for livestock. 

WFP has already supported over 3.3 million people with a combination of emergency relief food and anticipatory actions, saving lives in the short term and building resilience in the long term.

However, to deliver its full drought response to 3.5 million people, WFP requires US$281 million.