Ethiopia's government, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the UN World Food Program (WFP) issued a warning on Friday that the refugee response in Ethiopia is on the verge of collapse. Without an immediate injection of funds, essential life-saving services, including food, water, and healthcare, for over 1.1 million refugees will cease within weeks.
“The situation we face is unprecedented and deeply alarming,” said Aissatou M. Ndiaye, UNHCR Country Representative in Ethiopia.
“We have reached a critical moment where the choice we make now will determine whether Ethiopia's refugee response collapses or becomes a model for resilience, inclusion, and long-term solutions.”
Ethiopia is the second-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa after Uganda. Women and girls make up nearly 50 percent of the refugee population, and children represent almost 60 percent.
The East African country has seen a surge in arrivals due to conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan, as well as drought and insecurity in Somalia. Yet, severe funding shortfalls have already forced aid agencies to cut emergency relief supplies by 70 percent in 2025.
“Ethiopia has honored its commitments to protect refugees, but this heavy responsibility cannot be borne by the Government alone,” said Teyiba Hassen, Director General of Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS).
“Our resources are stretched to the limit, and the pressure on host communities is becoming unbearable. At this critical time, immediate international support to share this burden and avoid humanitarian catastrophe is a must.”
The impact of the shortfall is already devastating. In October, WFP was forced to slash food rations for 780,000 refugees, providing just 40 percent of the standard entitlement and less than 1,000 calories per day. Currently, only 70,000 newly arrived refugees receive full rations.
“As food runs out, families are being pushed into survival mechanisms. We are urgently calling for US$90 million to sustain operations for the next six months,” said Zlatan Milišić, WFP Country Director in Ethiopia.
“If we do not receive new funding immediately, we may be forced to completely suspend food assistance to refugees in the coming months, leading to deepening malnutrition and hunger.”
The severe ration cuts have already triggered a sharp rise in malnutrition, which now exceeds 15 percent in refugee camps. Tragically, the mortality rate among newborns and children under one year old has risen to 4.7 percent, and admissions for malnutrition have more than doubled compared to last year.
According to WFP’s projections, cutting rations from 60 percent to 40 percent will quadruple the number of refugee families with poor diets — rising from one in ten households to four in ten. With the introduction of the 40 percent ration cut, the likelihood of families resorting to negative coping mechanisms has increased by 66 percent.
Families are resorting to negative strategies such as skipping meals, reducing children’s portions, selling their remaining assets, and sending children to work or into early marriage.
The lack of resources has crippled water and education services beyond food. Refugees now receive an average of only 12–14 liters of water per day, with some areas receiving as little as 5 liters — well below the emergency standard of 15 liters.
Funding for 57 primary schools serving 110,000 children has been exhausted. These schools are set to close on December 31, 2025, leaving classrooms empty and teachers without pay.
Schools serve as essential protective environments, providing more than just an education. The three agencies underlined that closing them places 110,000 children at immediate risk of early marriage, child labor, and trafficking, which threatens the future of an entire generation.
The Ethiopian government, UNHCR, and WFP are appealing to the international community to provide the necessary financial support to match Ethiopia's long-standing commitment to hosting refugees.
“Ethiopia has kept its doors open, but it cannot bear this responsibility alone,” the agencies stated in a joint message.
“We need sustained support to prevent further deterioration and to help refugees rebuild their lives with dignity.”