The United States has officially handed over its food assistance operations in northern Ethiopia to the Joint Emergency Operations Program (JEOP), marking a new phase in its humanitarian response to the crisis-affected regions of Tigray, Amhara, and Afar.
At a handover ceremony held in Mekelle on July 15, U.S. Embassy official Tim Stein emphasized that the transition to JEOP represents a more coordinated and targeted approach to delivering life-saving aid—not a reduction in U.S. assistance. “This transition is more than a shift in delivery partners—it reflects our deep and ongoing commitment to stand with the people of Ethiopia,” Stein said.
According to a press release shared with DNE Africa, JEOP has already reached 1.2 million people across 52 districts in the past six months, with overall food assistance delivered to 3.1 million people nationwide.
The U.S. Embassy noted that the shift allows the World Food Programme (WFP) to reallocate its efforts toward areas where needs are escalating, while JEOP scales up in northern regions to maintain continuity of aid.
The transition was implemented in close coordination with the federal government, the Tigray Region Disaster Risk Management Commission, the Food Cluster, and WFP.
So far in 2025, the U.S. has provided $341 million to both JEOP and WFP for emergency food operations in Ethiopia. Washington remains the largest single donor of humanitarian support to the country, providing critical aid to those impacted by conflict, displacement, and chronic food insecurity.
The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to Ethiopia’s humanitarian response, stressing that support will continue through the end of the year.
