The World Food Program (WFP) said it has been supplying food and cash assistance to 2 million people in Ethiopia including 700,000 refugees the country is hosting.
“WFP continues to provide assistance to 2 million people in form of food/cash assistance under the Humanitarian Response Plan, including 700,000 refugees, 300,000 malnourished pregnant and nursing women, and children aged 6-59 months,” WFP said today in its situation update. The assistance is provided in Somali Region and East/West Hararghe; 26 refugee camps; and the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition is in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region and Tigray, according to WFP
WFP also stated the fact that that 350,000 mt of agricultural produce in Ethiopia is consumed by desert locusts will worsen the food insecurity of the country along with some 220,000 Ethiopian returnees and deportees mainly from the Middle East estimated to arrive in Ethiopia in 2020.
Reports show that out of the total 110 million population of Ethiopia, about 15 million, including those under productive safety net program, are food aid dependents. WFP is also providing Fresh Food Vouchers to 100,000 people in Amhara Region, which has the highest rates of stunting in Ethiopia. “Over half a million children were reached each month with school meals before the schools closed, and around half a million pastoralists reached via climate-based insurance schemes this year,” said WFP.
Logistics
• WFP continues to work with the Ethiopian Government, providing backstop logistics support at Bole International Airport and for Ethiopian Airlines following the implementation of Solidarity Flights for the COVID-19 response.
• Flights continued from the Addis Ababa Humanitarian Air Hub to destinations across Africa with medical supplies and equipment on behalf of the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation.
• A team of 25 WFP aviation and logistics staff are based at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, managing the 24-hour operation, according to WFP update.