Ethiopia is grappling with a worsening malnutrition crisis, as a convergence of conflict, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and economic instability continues to erode the health of its most vulnerable populations. For decades, the country has ranked among the world’s worst-affected by acute malnutrition—especially among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women—according to UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

Chronic undernutrition has long plagued Ethiopia, but acute hunger is on the rise.

A 2019 Mini Demographic and Health Survey found that 37 percent of children under five were stunted, while 7 percent were wasted—a sign of dangerously low weight for height.

Now, a 2025 report by the Ethiopia Nutrition Cluster paints an even grimmer picture: more than 1.2 million children and women are at heightened risk of acute malnutrition.



The Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU), alongside the Nutrition Cluster, is urging donors and humanitarian partners to mobilize more than USD 112 million to stem the crisis in the hardest-hit regions.

The appeal comes as life-saving nutrition services face severe disruptions. Pipeline breakdowns—driven by funding cuts and logistical hurdles—have left communities across the country with dwindling access to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a critical treatment for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).

Among the most destabilizing blows was a recent stop-work order issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which led to a freeze in funding. The suspension disrupted nutrition interventions in five of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable regions: Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Afar, and Somali.

“The USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) was the primary donor for RUTF,” the report notes. “Between 2023 and 2024, BHA provided 66 percent of the total RUTF supply. In 2024 alone, the agency funded 90 percent of all RUTF distributed for Severe Acute Malnutrition treatment.”

The crisis is being compounded by an uptick in disease outbreaks—including malaria, cholera, measles, and dengue fever—that weaken immune systems and impair nutrient absorption in children.

Meanwhile, soaring food prices are further undermining household food security. A recent assessment by the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI) revealed that basic staples—such as sorghum, lentils, leafy greens, and cooking oil—have become unaffordable for many.

“An alarming 61 percent of markets are functioning poorly, while 39 percent show limited functionality,” the report states, adding that logistical and access constraints have delayed the delivery of essential nutrition supplies, particularly in Amhara and parts of Oromia.

The ENCU report registered critical levels of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM)—defined by a GAM rate above 15 percent—in several regions. In 2024, humanitarian partners reached 2.7 million malnourished children and women, meeting 80 percent of the year’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) target. Yet, only USD 198 million was raised, falling short of the USD 276 million needed.

High rates of edematous malnutrition have also been reported in Oromia’s East and West Hararge zones. In Tigray, despite similarly high GAM rates identified through SMART surveys, treatment admissions remain worryingly low, prompting calls for a Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) to assess service reach.

Stabilization centers in Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Southwest Ethiopia recorded the highest death rates. Meanwhile, the Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Gambella regions also report the highest levels of defaulters and non-responders—families who abandon or do not respond to treatment.

The report emphasized that deteriorating market conditions, limited access, and logistical delays are critically undermining the country’s already fragile nutrition infrastructure. With millions at risk, humanitarian agencies are calling for urgent international support to restore nutrition services and prevent further loss of life.

Despite urgent efforts to address Ethiopia’s deepening nutrition crisis, critical shortfalls in food and medical supplies now threaten to derail life-saving interventions, according to a joint humanitarian report.

The Joint Emergency Operation Program (JEOP) reports that existing stocks of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and therapeutic milk are expected to last until September 2025—providing temporary relief for children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition. But projected supply gaps in other essential items pose significant risks for vulnerable groups.

Between July and September 2025, a shortfall of 641 metric tons of Corn-Soy Blend Plus Plus (CSB++)—a key fortified food—is expected to affect more than 85,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, with a funding gap of USD 1.1 million. Additionally, JEOP anticipates a deficit of 105 metric tons of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food, jeopardizing care for over 35,000 moderately malnourished children. An additional USD 262,000 is required to bridge this gap.

UNICEF has also sounded the alarm. The agency projects a looming shortage of more than 654,000 cartons of RUTF, warning that the pipeline will break by the end of May if procurement does not begin immediately. “To avoid this pipeline break, procurement must be initiated no later than March,” the report urges, estimating the funding need at USD 34.7 million.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is similarly constrained. As of March 11, it reported a projected shortfall of more than 17,000 metric tons of CSB++ between April and December 2025—valued at USD 45.3 million. It also flagged a deficit of more than 5,800 metric tons of RUSF, putting 122,000 children at risk. While WFP expects a shipment of 1,100 metric tons of RUSF from USAID in the coming months, the delivery is currently on hold.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is bracing for a critical shortage of treatment kits for children suffering from SAM-related medical complications. Beginning in April, an estimated 35,000 children could be left without necessary care, unless USD 3.25 million in additional funding is secured.

In response, the Ethiopia Nutrition Cluster is calling for an urgent and strategic funding push in 2025 to avert a full-scale humanitarian collapse. “The cost of inaction can result in dire consequences,” the report warns, citing increased rates of disease, disability, and death among malnourished children and women. “Untreated moderate malnutrition can quickly deteriorate into severe malnutrition, increasing vulnerability to chronic illness and mortality.”

Key priorities outlined by the cluster include sustaining care for wasting in high-risk zones and bolstering donor support for RUTF, RUSF, CSB++, and critical medical supplies. Additional investments are needed for operational costs—storage, transport, technical support, and workforce development—as well as for community assessments and data collection efforts, such as SMART surveys and SQUEAC evaluations.

The ENCU emphasized that “nutrition is a life-saving intervention.”

A nutrition expert, speaking to The Reporter on condition of anonymity, said the crisis stems from a simple but devastating reality: a lack of funding. “You cannot execute any life-saving operation without funding,” he said, explaining that most nutrition programs in Ethiopia are donor-funded. “The sudden stop in funding is the primary cause of this supply breakdown.”

The expert stressed that immediate government intervention and international support are critical to curbing the crisis. “If we wait, mortality will rise among children and breastfeeding mothers,” he warned. “Once the caseload increases, it becomes much harder for humanitarian actors to respond. The system becomes overwhelmed.”

He also identified mass displacement across Ethiopia as a major driver of food insecurity and malnutrition. “We must address displacement to address malnutrition,” he said, calling for policies that prioritize children and ensure access to nutrient-rich, diverse diets. “We need to raise awareness among parents, subsidize nutritious foods, and expand safety-net programs that protect the most at-risk families.”

The WFP’s recent report indicates alarmingly high malnutrition rates in Ethiopia, affecting 4.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women and children who require treatment.  Furthermore, the report highlights that while WFP has provided fortified nutritious food to 740,000 mothers and children since January,  additional funding is urgently needed to sustain these critical interventions.