Refugee response in Ethiopia at breaking point as aid resources dangerously low, putting 1.1 million lives at risk
Refugee response in Ethiopia at breaking point as aid resources dangerously low, putting 1.1 million lives at risk
South Sudanese refugee women and children gather outside a nutrition center in Matar, Gambella, waiting to receive assistance.
Addis Ababa- The Government of Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned today 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.
Ethiopia, the second-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, has seen a surge in arrivals due to conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan, as well as drought in Somalia. Yet, severe funding shortfalls have already forced aid agencies to cut emergency relief supplies by 70 percent in 2025.
“Ethiopia has honoured its commitments to protect refugees, but this heavy responsibility cannot be borne by the Government alone,” said Ms. Teyiba Hassen, Director General of 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 situation we face is unprecedented and deeply alarming,” said Ms. Aissatou M. Ndiaye, UNHCR Country Representative. “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.”
The impact of the shortfall is already devastating. In October, WFP was forced to cut food rations for 780,000 refugees to just 40 percent of the standard entitlement—providing less than 1,000 calories per day. Only 70,000 newly arrived refugees currently 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 Representative and Country Director. “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 cuts have already triggered a sharp rise in malnutrition, which now exceeds 15 percent in refugee camps. Tragically, mortality rates among newborns and children under one year rose to 4.7 percent in 2025, and admissions for malnutrition have more than doubled compared to last year.
WFP analyses project that cutting rations from 60 percent to 40 percent will quadruple the number of refugee families consuming poor diets — from 1 in 10 households to 4 in 10. With the introduction of ration cuts to 40 percent - the likelihood of families resorting to negative coping mechanisms has gone up by two-thirds (66 percent). Families are adopting negative strategies such as skipping meals and reducing children’s portions, selling their last remaining assets or sending children to work or into early marriage.
Beyond food, the lack of resources has crippled water and education services. Refugees now receive an average of just 12–14 liters of water per day, dropping to as low as five liters in some areas—well below the emergency standard of 15 liters. Funding for 57 primary schools, which serve 110,000 children, has been exhausted. These schools are set to close on 31 December 2025, leaving classrooms locked and teachers unpaid.
Schools serve as essential protective environments, not just places for learning. Closing them places 110,000 children at immediate risk of early marriage, child labor, and trafficking, risking the future of an entire generation, the three agencies underlined.
The Government of Ethiopia, UNHCR, and WFP are appealing to the international community to match Ethiopia's long-standing commitment to host refugees with the necessary financial support.
“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.”
END
For more information, please contact:
(RRS) Sileshi Demisew, [email protected], +251 0912023969
(UNHCR) Sona Dadi, [email protected], +251 932 459 640
(WFP) Claire Nevill, [email protected], +44 7887 626224
Footage and photos
