Over 10 Million Ethiopians Facing Severe Food Insecurity: UN Report
The United Nations (UN) Geneva Office held a weekly press conference online, where Milisic provided evaluations on the dire humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. Milisic highlighted the various crises facing the country, such as conflict, climate crisis, economic instability, and displacement, leading to a rapidly worsening situation.
According to Milisic, more than 10 million people in Ethiopia are currently experiencing serious food insecurity. Additionally, 4.4 million pregnant women and children are in need of emergency treatment due to malnutrition, raising concerns about malnutrition rates in the country.
The instability in neighboring countries further exacerbates the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, with the World Food Programme (WFP) providing support to 800,000 refugees in the country, including 100,000 water refugees. Milisic emphasized the crucial need for financial support for WFP’s intervention in Ethiopia.
However, Milisic expressed serious concerns about the financial resources available for WFP’s operations in Ethiopia, stating that without additional funds, the treatment of 650 thousand malnourished individuals may have to be suspended. This could potentially impact 3.6 million vulnerable people who rely on WFP’s assistance in the coming weeks.
Milisic emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that WFP needs $222 million by September to maintain operations in Ethiopia and reach 7.2 million people in 2025. Milisic called on donors to increase their support to ensure that vital humanitarian assistance continues to reach those in need in Ethiopia.
