A convoy of World Food Programme trucks transports humanitarian supplies as the UN agency delivers assistance to communities affected by food insecurity. Photo: WFP

NNA News - The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that a severe funding shortfall is threatening humanitarian operations in Ethiopia as climate shocks, insecurity, displacement and inflation increase pressure on vulnerable households.

In its latest country update, the WFP said persistent inflation and insecurity were weakening household resilience, while El Niño-related rainfall disruptions were adding to food security concerns.

The agency said the expected weather disruption could affect the October-to-January harvest and worsen drought conditions in Afar, Amhara, Tigray and Oromia. Humanitarian needs are expected to increase further through 2027.

The WFP is preparing a phased emergency response in Afar, Amhara and Tigray, targeting about 1.43 million people from September. The agency said it assisted about 1.9 million people across Ethiopia in August.

The response is being planned as El Niño strengthens globally. The WFP says the current event could become one of the strongest on record, with potential consequences for food security in vulnerable regions.

A World Food Programme truck transports humanitarian supplies through a rural area as the agency supports food assistance operations. Photo: WFP

The main constraint is funding. The agency said its Ethiopia country portfolio for October through March is only 46 percent funded, leaving a net requirement of US$251 million.

“A severe funding shortfall” is hampering life-saving operations, the WFP said, warning that the gap could increasingly affect assistance as food insecurity, displacement and climate-related needs rise.

The agency also said insecurity in several parts of the country was affecting supply routes and delaying the delivery of assistance. Its operations prioritise people facing the highest levels of food insecurity and vulnerability.

Ethiopia is also hosting more than 1.13 million refugees and asylum-seekers, with continued arrivals from neighbouring Sudan and South Sudan adding to humanitarian pressures.

The funding shortage comes as the WFP expands preparations for climate-related shocks across the region. In June, the agency and the Food and Agriculture Organization launched a joint appeal seeking US$202 million to support anticipatory action for nearly 9 million people in 22 countries exposed to the potential effects of a strong El Niño.

The organisations said early action could include cash assistance, drought-tolerant or flood-resistant seeds, livestock protection, water storage and early-warning information.

The WFP's wider Ethiopia strategy for 2026 to 2030 also places emphasis on strengthening food systems, livelihoods and government capacity to prepare for and respond to shocks. The agency says Ethiopia's development ambitions continue to face pressure from conflict, economic and climate shocks, and rising poverty.