UN's World Food Programme Shutters Southern Africa Office Following Major US Aid Cuts

The closure consolidates operations in Nairobi as funding shortfalls jeopardize food assistance for millions in drought-stricken regions.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is closing its regional office in Johannesburg, consolidating southern and East Africa operations in Nairobi, Kenya.
The decision follows the Trump administration's termination of 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts, cutting $60 billion in global humanitarian funding.
The United States previously provided $4.4 billion annually to the WFP, accounting for nearly half of its budget and vastly outpacing contributions from other nations.
Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in decades, leaving 27 million people at risk of hunger and heightening the need for food assistance.
Other UN agencies, including the International Organization for Migration and UNFPA, are also facing significant operational impacts from the US aid cuts.