At least eight internally displaced persons (IDPs) have died over the past three months in Axum, a town in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, amid a severe shortage of food and medicine. Local coordinators say the ongoing suspension of humanitarian assistance has left many vulnerable to hunger, illness, and harsh weather conditions.
Kahsay Asayehegn, who oversees IDP affairs in the Axum Cluster of Western Tigray, reported that the deaths were linked to extreme deprivation. He added that many displaced families are now exposed to cold and flood risks due to heavy rains, and have urged authorities to either provide immediate support or facilitate their return to safer areas.
In neighboring Amhara region, humanitarian conditions are also worsening following the suspension of USAID-funded programs. According to Deutsche Welle, displaced communities have lost access to food, medicine, and shelter. “There is no food. Health workers are gone, and basic supplies like flour and oil are no longer available,” one displaced resident said.
Officials in Amhara say the crisis affects not only displaced people but also locals in drought-hit areas who depended on monthly aid. Tesfaw Batabl, regional disaster commissioner, said over 46,000 quintals of grain have been collected for distribution and efforts are underway to address gaps in health services and shelter.
The freeze in USAID assistance—which came into effect under an executive order—has severely disrupted humanitarian operations across Ethiopia. In 2023, Ethiopia received more than $1 billion from the U.S., making it the largest aid recipient in sub-Saharan Africa.
With funding dwindling, the World Food Programme (WFP) has also announced it will halt its nutrition programs for 650,000 malnourished women and children starting this May. Originally, the agency aimed to assist two million people with emergency nutrition support this year.
Humanitarian organizations warn that unless funding resumes, the crisis could intensify further, putting countless lives at risk.