In Numbers
2.35 million people assisted
USD 5.47 million cash-based transfers provided
13,167 metric tonnes (mt) of food distributed
USD 299.4 million six months (Jan – June 2025) net funding requirements
Operational Updates
Relief Response
- WFP prioritized food insecure people from woredas in phases 4 and 5 (crisis and emergency), based on the updated analysis from the belg assessment, which was officially adopted in September 2024.
- By 31 December, 656,390 people, representing 96 percent of the 684,443 targeted under the general food distribution programme, received assistance through in-kind support and cash-based transfers to address the immediate food and nutrition needs of targeted populations.
- Of those reached 26 percent received cash totalling USD 3.85 million while the remaining 74 percent received in kind food with 5,125 mt of food distributed. Cash distributions are still ongoing in the Tigray region, where cash transfers were delayed due to registrations and the opening of bank accounts by the financial service provider.
- Due to limited resources, WFP provided only one month of assistance to 376,000 acutely food-insecure people in Woredas initially planned to receive two months of support. Additionally, the cereal ration was reduced from 15 kg to 12 kg due to anticipated shortages in the cereal. Additional resources are needed to prevent further deterioration of food security.
Refugees Assistance
- WFP provided food assistance to 765,361 refugees (91 percent of the planned) in 29 camps and sites with 5,409 mt of in-kind food and USD 294,165 cash assistance to help them meet their basic nutritional needs.
Nutrition Activities
- WFP provided 2,632 mt of specialized nutritious foods to 537,374 (84 percent) children under five, and pregnant and breastfeeding women under the treatment of acute malnutrition programme in nine regions. Through the voucher modality, 14,780 beneficiaries received USD 132,347 cash. Concerns about sustained access to nutrition assistance in insecure areas of Amhara and other regions remain unresolved.
- WFP participated in a Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) organised by OCHA in Bugna and Lasta woredas in the Amhara region to assess the nutrition situation. Initial reports indicate a high level of acute wasting among children, resulting in the admission of 64 children to four stabilization centres in Bugna Woreda.
- WFP is expanding the cash-for-treatment initiative which uses vouchers for the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition to 14 woredas with plans to cover 42 woredas in quarter 1. In this approach, targeted women and children receive vouchers to purchase local nutritious foods.
- WFP continued to implement its Fresh Food Voucher (FFV) programme reaching 36,171 people in Amhara region with USD 224,262.
School Meals
- In December, WFP reached 294,408 children with school meals, achieving 82 per cent of the target. Through WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) initiative, school-going children benefitted from safe, diversified, and nutritious meals sourced locally from local farmers and suppliers. More than 23,000 children in Tigray and 42,000 children in Amhara received school meals through the HGSF model with more than 200 mt of food procured from local farmers and suppliers. This approach not only supports children's nutrition but also stimulates and promotes local economies, enhances the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and strengthens the agricultural sector.
Livelihood Support and Climate Risk Management
- WFP continued to scale up its resilience and livelihood project aiming to enhance the capacity of smallholders in the Tigray region. In December, WFP reached 2,000 farmers (83 percent of the plan), with capacity building that led to the opening of group bank accounts for the Irrigation Water User Associations. In addition, WFP conducted a preliminary assessment of the irrigation systems whose findings will inform the connection of boreholes to the electrification system.
- Through the R4 Rural Resilience Initiative project in the Amhara region, 58 water user groups (1,826 members, of which 420 women) received 120 solar-powered pumps and started engaging in agronomic practices. A total of 50.7 hectares of land were utilized for irrigation in the project woredas, where farmers are growing vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions, and tomatoes. This initiative will not only generate economic benefits from vegetable sales but also contribute to improved dietary diversity, helping address nutrition challenges for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- WFP rehabilitated 0.695 km of irrigation canal in Gewane woreda, Afar region benefiting 300 households. This canal will enable irrigation of 150 hectares, promoting increased and diversified crop production.
Anticipatory Action
- As part of anticipatory action, WFP completed the third round of multi-purpose cash assistance to 4,272 households in Ayun and Bokh woredas in the Somali region.
- Through the Rangeland Management and Fodder Production intervention, communities received education on water management and rangeland rehabilitation. A total of 1,080 households participated in cash-for-work activities, leading to the construction of 4,744 soil and water conservation structures as well as water diversion canals. Additionally, 50 households benefited from irrigated fodder production, and 4,418 livestock feed vouchers were distributed to assist 5,263 targeted households.
Funding
- A sustained level of response is required to reduce food consumption gaps, address acute malnutrition and strengthen the resilience of communities. WFP requires USD 299.4 million over the next six months to continue providing lifesaving assistance.
Challenges
- Regions affected by active armed conflict, political instability, and frequent security incidents such as Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray remain high-risk areas. In these regions, ongoing armed confrontations, abductions, extortions, and road blockages continue to threaten humanitarian access and disrupt aid delivery.