UN warns that aid crisis in Ethiopia is falling hardest on women and girls
The United Nations has warned that Ethiopia’s aid crisis is hitting women and girls the hardest, as severe funding shortages force cuts to life-saving health and protection services.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) says it needs $42.1 million by 2026 to support sexual and reproductive health care and assist survivors of gender-based violence. Ethiopia is now among the world’s most underfunded humanitarian crises, with UNFPA ranking it as its eighth-largest global appeal.
According to the agency, chronic underfunding has already led to the scaling back or suspension of key programmes. Many women are being left without safe childbirth services, emergency obstetric care, contraception or protection support. In 2025, UNFPA received only about $4 million of the $38.1 million it requested for Ethiopia.
UNFPA’s Executive Director, Diene Keita, warned that funding cuts are translating into closed clinics and survivors of sexual violence being turned away without help, calling these services “non-negotiable and life-saving.”
The situation is being worsened by overlapping crises, including conflict, climate-driven droughts and floods, and large-scale displacement. Ethiopia is also under additional strain from the war in neighbouring Sudan, as it hosts refugees fleeing violence and collapsing health systems.
UNICEF, on the other hand, says its humanitarian appeal for Ethiopian children remains heavily underfunded, putting essential services such as nutrition, health care and clean water at risk.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
