The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended aid and malnutrition treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children in Ethiopia due to severe funding shortages. The suspension is a result of a significant funding gap, particularly linked to cuts in international aid from the United States under the Trump administration. This halt in assistance comes amid an ongoing hunger crisis in Ethiopia, with millions more at risk of losing access to food aid. The WFP has warned that 3.6 million people in Ethiopia will no longer have access to food aid in the coming weeks, leaving many vulnerable to a potential humanitarian catastrophe. The funding shortfall has forced the agency to stop providing critical nutritional support, exacerbating the food insecurity situation in the country.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Kenya's economy will surpass Ethiopia's to become the largest in East Africa in 2025. Kenya's gross domestic product (GDP) is forecasted at $132 billion, compared to Ethiopia's $117 billion. This shift follows a sharp devaluation of the Ethiopian birr, which has prompted support from the IMF and the World Bank but also increased Ethiopia's import costs. Despite expectations of slower economic growth for Kenya this year, inflation is anticipated to remain stable amid uncertainties related to sweeping tariff measures by the United States. As of June 2024, Kenya's public debt stands at 10.58 trillion Kenyan shillings, representing a debt-to-GDP ratio of 63%, which exceeds the government's target of 55%, though it remains sustainable. Kenyan government officials have highlighted the country's strengthening economic position in the region.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter with large gatherings and traditional spiritual ceremonies across the country. Tens of thousands of worshippers convened in Lalibela, known as "the Black Jerusalem," to commemorate the Resurrection of Christ. In the capital city of Addis Ababa, celebrations took place at the Bole Medhane Alem Orthodox Cathedral, featuring customary chants and prayers. Despite ongoing armed conflict and other challenges facing Ethiopia, the Easter festivities were marked by calls for sacrifice, love, and peace among the population. The observance reflects the enduring vitality of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and its cultural significance in the nation.

The United Nations humanitarian agency is set to reduce its workforce by approximately 500 employees, equivalent to a 20% staff cut, due to severe funding reductions. This decision comes in response to what has been described as 'brutal cuts' in financial support, which have had a devastating impact on various humanitarian services. Reports indicate that in Ethiopia, four out of seven refugee camps have closed their nutrition services, while in Bangladesh, health services for refugees are nearing collapse. Additionally, the World Health Organization has noted that 70% of countries are experiencing interruptions in health services as a result of these funding cuts. The cuts are also expected to affect key programs in education, family planning, and food supply, raising concerns about a potential rollback of progress in global maternal mortality rates.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended aid and malnutrition treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children in Ethiopia due to severe funding shortages. The suspension is a result of a significant funding gap, particularly linked to cuts in international aid from the United States under the Trump administration. This halt in assistance comes amid an ongoing hunger crisis in Ethiopia, with millions more at risk of losing access to food aid. The WFP has warned that 3.6 million people in Ethiopia will no longer have access to food aid in the coming weeks, leaving many vulnerable to a potential humanitarian catastrophe. The funding shortfall has forced the agency to stop providing critical nutritional support, exacerbating the food insecurity situation in the country.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Kenya's economy will surpass Ethiopia's to become the largest in East Africa in 2025. Kenya's gross domestic product (GDP) is forecasted at $132 billion, compared to Ethiopia's $117 billion. This shift follows a sharp devaluation of the Ethiopian birr, which has prompted support from the IMF and the World Bank but also increased Ethiopia's import costs. Despite expectations of slower economic growth for Kenya this year, inflation is anticipated to remain stable amid uncertainties related to sweeping tariff measures by the United States. As of June 2024, Kenya's public debt stands at 10.58 trillion Kenyan shillings, representing a debt-to-GDP ratio of 63%, which exceeds the government's target of 55%, though it remains sustainable. Kenyan government officials have highlighted the country's strengthening economic position in the region.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter with large gatherings and traditional spiritual ceremonies across the country. Tens of thousands of worshippers convened in Lalibela, known as "the Black Jerusalem," to commemorate the Resurrection of Christ. In the capital city of Addis Ababa, celebrations took place at the Bole Medhane Alem Orthodox Cathedral, featuring customary chants and prayers. Despite ongoing armed conflict and other challenges facing Ethiopia, the Easter festivities were marked by calls for sacrifice, love, and peace among the population. The observance reflects the enduring vitality of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and its cultural significance in the nation.

The United Nations humanitarian agency is set to reduce its workforce by approximately 500 employees, equivalent to a 20% staff cut, due to severe funding reductions. This decision comes in response to what has been described as 'brutal cuts' in financial support, which have had a devastating impact on various humanitarian services. Reports indicate that in Ethiopia, four out of seven refugee camps have closed their nutrition services, while in Bangladesh, health services for refugees are nearing collapse. Additionally, the World Health Organization has noted that 70% of countries are experiencing interruptions in health services as a result of these funding cuts. The cuts are also expected to affect key programs in education, family planning, and food supply, raising concerns about a potential rollback of progress in global maternal mortality rates.