The UN World Food Programme warned today that refugees in Ethiopia are at risk of rising hunger as critical funding shortages force cuts to food rations.

In October, WFP was forced to reduce rations for 780,000 refugees in 27 camps across Ethiopia from a 60 percent ration to just 40 percent. This means each person will now receive food assistance equivalent to less than 1,000 calories per day. Only 70,000 newly arrived refugees who fled conflict in neighbouring Sudan and South Sudan will continue to receive full rations for the next six months. Hunger and malnutrition rates are very high among the new refugees.

“We are making impossible choices,” said Zlatan Milisic, WFP Ethiopia Country Director and Representative. “We are trying to reach as many refugees as possible with meaningful amounts of food assistance. But without more funds, these reductions are just another step towards stopping food distributions completely, putting the lives of those we currently assist at risk. (WFP)