The humanitarian crisis in Tigray remains dire, with millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggling to survive amid forceful, illegal occupation by Amhara and Eritrea Forces as well as economic collapse. Food insecurity is at catastrophic levels, hunger being the leading cause of death, yet the World Food Program (WFP) is moving toward a cash-based aid system, reducing direct food distribution. While this transition was framed as an effort to enhance efficiency and flexibility, it poses grave risks for IDPs who have no reliable access to markets, no purchasing power, and no alternative means of survival.
The Reality on the Ground: Markets in Ruin, Starvation on the Rise
For the displaced communities of Tigray, cash assistance is no substitute for actual food. The region’s economy has been decimated by war, and local markets—where they even exist—are unaffordable to those who have lost everything. Food prices have soared due to the floating of the dollar, supply chain disruptions and occupation, putting even the most basic necessities out of reach. In this context, providing cash instead of food does little more than leave families with empty hands and empty stomachs.
IDPs in Tigray are not facing a crisis of financial liquidity—they are facing a crisis of food availability. No amount of cash can create markets where none exist. Without in-kind food aid, displaced communities risk death, deeper starvation and malnutrition, particularly as humanitarian access remains highly restricted.
Logistical Failures and the Risk of Aid Diversion
Beyond economic realities, the shift to cash assistance introduces logistical and security concerns. With large portions of Tigray still forcefully and illegally occupied by Eritrean and Amhara forces, aid distribution remains highly precarious. WFP’s reliance on cash-based aid assumes a level of stability and accessibility that simply does not exist. Corruption, aid diversion, and logistical failures are all heightened risks when assistance is converted into cash. In a region where displacement is ongoing and governance is fragile, ensuring that cash reaches those in need—and that it can actually be used for survival—is an unrealistic expectation.
Additionally, the WFP itself is struggling with funding shortfalls, leading to drastic cuts in food rations for IDPs. Cereal allocations have been slashed, leaving already malnourished families with even less sustenance. Malnutrition rates are skyrocketing, and with health services in disarray, the consequences of these reductions will be lethal. The transition to cash-based aid does nothing to address this shortfall—it merely shifts the burden onto displaced people who already have no means to cope.
A Call for Urgent Action: Reinstate In-Kind Food Aid
The humanitarian response in Tigray must be dictated by the reality on the ground, not by abstract efficiency models that fail to account for the dire conditions IDPs face. While cash assistance may be viable in some contexts, it is dangerously inadequate in Tigray’s current crisis. The continuation of in-kind food aid is not a matter of convenience—it is a matter of survival.
The WFP and the broader humanitarian community must immediately:
Reinstate and expand in-kind food aid for IDPs in Tigray to address the immediate threat of starvation.
Ensure humanitarian access to displacement camps and rural areas where food insecurity is most severe.
Prevent the further weaponization of food by maintaining direct control over distribution and reducing opportunities for diversion.
Engage with local stakeholders to implement a context-sensitive aid strategy that truly serves displaced populations.
The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye as Tigray’s displaced communities are pushed further into starvation. Humanitarian organizations must recognize the grave risks of this policy shift and act now to prevent an even greater catastrophe.