The United Nations’ World Food Programme’s Southern Africa office has shut down amid humanitarian funding cuts by the U.S. government. 

According to Bloomberg, the WFP, which relies heavily on U.S. funding, is closing its Southern Africa bureau at a time when the region is facing its worst drought in four decades. 

The decision was communicated to staff globally in an email from Executive Director Cindy McCain on Friday.

The Trump factor?

President Donald Trump has been scaling back U.S. foreign aid, impacting sectors from health care to food supplies. 

With Washington contributing nearly half of the World Food Programme’s $9.7 billion budget, concerns have arisen over the potential consequences of these cuts.

However, doubts remain as to whether this development is a direct result of Trump’s aid reductions, even as his administration continues to prioritize its “America First” policy.

Reuters, however, reports that a WFP communications officer in Johannesburg confirmed the office’s closure but did not directly attribute it to Trump’s sweeping foreign aid cuts. In a text message, the officer stated, “Yes, the bureau is closing.”

The World Food Programme in Africa

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, working to save lives in emergencies and provide food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity. 

With 23,000 staff in over 120 countries, the WFP is responding to a global crisis where 343 million people face acute hunger and 1.9 million people are at risk of famine.

In Southern Africa, 26 million people across seven countries are facing food shortages ahead of the May harvest due to devastating droughts exacerbated by complex weather patterns like El Niño. 

The region has declared national disasters in several countries, including Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, while Angola and Mozambique are witnessing severe food insecurity impacts.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Tanganyika province is also experiencing acute food insecurity due to El Niño-induced flooding and heavy rainfall, affecting up to 40% of the population.

The potential departure of the World Food Programme (WFP) from Southern Africa could have devastating consequences for regional disaster response mechanisms. 

The region is prone to climate-related shocks, including droughts, cyclones, and floods, which necessitate coordinated humanitarian interventions. Without the WFP’s presence, response times may slow, and resources may dwindle, leaving millions more vulnerable to food insecurity.

The closure of the WFP office could exacerbate hunger and poverty, placing additional strain on local governments and aid agencies. Furthermore, it may undermine long-term efforts to build food resilience in the region, ultimately threatening the livelihoods of those most in need.

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