Ethiopia’s refugee response is on the verge of collapse, with essential life-saving services—including food, water, and healthcare—for over 1.1 million refugees set to cease within weeks without an immediate injection of funds, the Government of Ethiopia’s Refugees and Returnees Service, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned, according to a joint statement. Ethiopia, the second-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, has seen a surge in arrivals due to conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan and drought in Somalia. Yet severe funding shortfalls have already forced aid agencies to cut emergency relief supplies by 70% in 2025.
“Ethiopia has honoured its commitments to protect refugees, but this heavy responsibility cannot be borne by the Government alone,” said 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 impact is already devastating. In October, WFP was forced to cut food rations for 780,000 refugees to just 40% 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% in refugee camps. Mortality rates among newborns and children under one year rose to 4.7% in 2025, and admissions for malnutrition have more than doubled compared to last year. WFP analyses project that cutting rations from 60% to 40% will quadruple the number of refugee families consuming poor diets—from 1 in 10 households to 4 in 10. Families are skipping meals, 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 serving 110,000 children has been exhausted. These schools are set to close on December 31, 2025, leaving classrooms locked and teachers unpaid.
“The situation we face is unprecedented and deeply alarming,” said 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.”
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. “We need sustained support to prevent further deterioration and to help refugees rebuild their lives with dignity.”
