WFP Launches Emergency Food Support for Mpox-Affected Families in Liberia
Winifred H. Sackor 
Monrovia, Liberia: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a three-month emergency operation to provide food and nutrition assistance to 11,500 people affected by the Mpox outbreak in Liberia, many of whom are facing isolation and limited access to food.
The intervention comes as Mpox cases continue to rise across the country, with health authorities confirming more than 1,600 cases since the disease was first detected in Liberia in January 2024.
According to health authorities, more than 10,000 contacts have been identified, while about 190 individuals remain under active monitoring as part of national efforts to contain the outbreak.
Working at the request of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and in coordination with the Ministry of Health of Liberia, WFP is providing emergency assistance through cash transfers to households affected by isolation and surveillance measures.
The programme prioritizes patients in isolation, contacts under monitoring, and communities considered at high epidemiological risk.
Public health measures such as isolation and contact tracing remain critical to stopping the spread of the disease.
However, food insecurity remains a major challenge, with an estimated 418,200 Liberians currently facing acute food shortages, a situation that could make compliance with health measures more difficult for affected families.
WFP Liberia Country Director Agbessi Amewoa said the assistance is intended to help families maintain access to food while observing health protocols.
“For many families affected by the Mpox outbreak, isolation can quickly lead to hunger. This support helps people comply with health measures without compromising their dignity, wellbeing, and access to food,” Amewoa said.
The emergency response is being implemented with support from the Mastercard Foundation, which is partnering with WFP to address the humanitarian impact of the outbreak.
Despite the intervention, WFP warns that additional funding is urgently needed to sustain emergency food and nutrition support over the next three months, with the agency seeking US$1 million to continue the operation
