Attachments
In Numbers
2.39 million people assisted
USD 3.28 million cash-based transfers provided
16,911 metric tonnes (mt) of food distributed
USD 256 million net funding requirement for the next six months (February – July 2025)
Operational Updates
Relief Response
• In January 2025, WFP assisted 594,058 people (96 percent) of its target of 617,432 across the Afar, Amhara, Somali, Tigray, and Oromia regions. Of those assisted, 436,349 people (73.5 percent) received in-kind food commodities, while 157,709 people (26.5 percent) were supported through cash-based transfers.
• According to the Household Economic Assessment (HEA), an estimated 1.34 million people in WFP operational areas will require food assistance in the first quarter of 2025 (January to March). Due to limited resources, WFP is prioritizing acutely food-insecure people in HEA phases 4 and 5 woredas, as well as internally displaced persons and returnees.
• Rations included 12 kg of cereals, 1.5 kg of pulses, and 1.1 kg of vegetable oil. As in December, cereal rations in January remained at 12 kg, down from 15 kg, due to shortages, with further ration cuts expected in February.
• Cash-based transfers were implemented in Afar and Tigray after feasibility assessments. In January, cash assistance increased, supported by contributions from ECHO and Canada. The shift has improved household flexibility, diversified diets, strengthened local markets, and enhanced dignity by providing greater choice.
• Since 21 December 2024, heightened seismic activity in the Afar and Oromia regions, with over 200 earthquakes recorded, has prompted WFP to provide relief support to affected people. Complementing the government’s response, WFP provided 33.01 metric tons (MT) of vegetable oil to 73,361 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in January.
Refugees Assistance
• WFP provided food assistance to 798,164 refugees (92 percent) of the planned caseload across 29 camps and sites, distributing 9,158 MT of in-kind food and USD 298,577 in cash assistance.
• Of those assisted, 77 percent in 20 camps received fully in-kind support, while 23 percent in 9 camps received a hybrid (cash and food) transfer.
• Recently arrived Sudanese refugees (2 percent of the caseload) received full rations due to their critical food and nutrition status, while the rest received 60 percent rations.
Nutrition Activities
• WFP provided 2,450 MT of specialized nutritious foods to 251,875 children under five and 247,529 pregnant and breastfeeding women under the acute malnutrition treatment programme in nine regions.
Through the voucher modality, 7,450 beneficiaries received USD 65,724 to purchase locally available nutritious foods.
• As WFP transitions all priority 1 woredas (those with the highest malnutrition rates) into the Integrated Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) programme, training health staff is essential. The Amhara team—supported by the CO team— conducted a Training of Trainers (TOT) for 49 participants from the Health Bureau and NGOs, who will train health extension workers for implementation.
School Meals-
• WFP provided school meals to 265,050 children in January 2025, achieving 96 percent of the plan. Of these, 198,744 children received home-grown school meals in southern Ethiopia and Amhara.
• Seismic activity near Awash Fentale disrupted school meals for 2,028 children in 16 schools (15 in Awash Fentale and one in Dulecha), displacing students and families from hotspot areas to safer locations.
• In Amhara, Bugan Woreda is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to insecurity, significantly affecting education. Of the 19,391 primary school students expected to enroll in September 2024, only 7,140 (37 percent) registered, while attendance has dropped to below 20 percent.
Livelihood Support and Climate Risk Management
• In Gambella region, 85 farmers (45 refugees and 40 host community members) completed the harvest from a 60-hectare joint farming project, producing 11,900 kg of sorghum while strengthening peaceful coexistence. Several training sessions were launched in January to enhance productivity and resilience, including pest management training for 130 development agents and woreda officials in Gambella and various climate-smart agriculture and livestock management trainings benefiting 1,887 participants in Somali region.
• In Afar, five smallholder farmers sold 2.05 MT of vegetables to vendors supplying school meals in Hanruka and Ambiara woredas, encouraging more farmers to tap into market linkages facilitated by WFP.
• Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and Rural Savings and Credit Cooperatives (RuSACCOs) expanded across multiple regions. In Gambella, 313 VSLA groups saved ETB 6.2 million, with ETB 2.1 million disbursed as loans, while in Somali, 43 VSLA groups transitioned into RuSACCOs, receiving ETB 7 million in grants.
Additionally, 47 groups in Jijiga accumulated ETB 5.3 million in savings, with ETB 3.1 million distributed as loans. In Tigray, six new VSLAs were established, bringing the total to 60 groups, while in Afar, three new all-female VSLAs increased the total to 34 groups.
Cross-cutting Action
• Gender, Protection, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) insights were integrated into the earthquake response plan for Afar and Oromia.
• The “Humanitarian Food for Family” communication campaign sensitizing communities on the intended use of food and nutrition assistance was launched in Gambella and Afar, with materials translated into multiple local languages.
• The Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) team managed 2,620 cases in January 2025, with 51 percent received via the call center and 49 percent through helpdesks. Complaints made up 61 percent of cases, followed by requests for information (19 percent) and requests for assistance (16 percent).
Funding
• With ration cuts already taking place and more planned, WFP faces an immediate funding gap of USD 256 million (February-July 2025).
Challenges
• Increasing methane emissions and seismic activity in Awash Fentale, Afar, raise concerns about a volcanic eruption.
• Armed confrontations, abductions, extortions, and road blockages in regions like Amhara and Oromia continue to cause operational challenges. The security environment is further complicated by AlShabab activities in the Somali region, communal violence, and reports of ISIS elements in the country.