WFP warns of rising malnutrition among refugees amid funding cuts
KAMPALA, May 29, 2025 – The United Nations World Food Programme [WFP] has raised the alarm over severe food shortages among refugees in Uganda, warning of critical levels of malnutrition following significant funding shortfalls.
The organisation has drastically reduced food assistance to refugees in Uganda due to a lack of funding, cutting support to fewer than half of those previously served.
“WFP currently supports over 630,000 refugees – a sharp drop from 1.6 million in April – due to critical funding constraints. This includes 64,000 newly arrived refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC],” the agency said in a statement.
Acute malnutrition among new arrivals has now surpassed emergency thresholds – defined as rates above 15 percent – particularly in reception centres hosting refugees from the DRC. The WFP continues to provide hot meals, general food assistance, and nutritional and livelihood support where possible.
The agency stressed that urgent funding is essential to restore even minimal levels of support. It currently requires US$ 26 million [approximately Shs 93.6 billion] to maintain reduced food rations through the remainder of 2025.
“Malnutrition levels in reception centres have exceeded emergency levels,” the statement noted. “Without additional funding, life-saving food assistance cannot be sustained.”
Earlier this year, WFP implemented drastic ration cuts for refugee households in Uganda. New arrivals now receive just 60 percent of the standard food ration, while the most vulnerable households receive 40 percent, down from 60 percent. Moderately vulnerable families are currently receiving only 22 percent, down from 30 percent.
The WFP delivers monthly relief assistance to evacuees in the form of either in-kind food or cash transfers, depending on available funding. This assistance is intended to meet their most basic nutritional needs.
Uganda hosts over 1.8 million refugees, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. In the last three months alone, at least 60,000 new arrivals have been recorded—primarily from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan—according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR].
The ongoing funding crisis threatens not only the health and wellbeing of the refugee population, but also the stability of host communities already under pressure.
The WFP is calling on international donors and partners to urgently step in with financial support to prevent further deterioration of conditions in refugee settlements across the country.
