Monrovia, Liberia – Hunger is becoming a problem for thousands of families in Liberia who have been forced into isolation due of the ongoing Mpox outbreak. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has initiated a three-month emergency intervention in response to the crisis, offering 11,500 disease-affected individuals nationwide immediate food and nutrition help.
As health authorities try to contain the outbreak, the operation made possible by a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation focuses on patients in isolation, people under monitoring as contacts, and areas deemed most at risk. Mpox was initially identified in Liberia in January 2024, but the outbreak worsened during 2025 and persisted into 2026 with persistent transmission.
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia reports that approximately 1,600 confirmed cases have been reported, with over 10,000 contacts noted and over 190 people under active follow-up. Strict public health measures, such as isolation, contact tracing, and community surveillance, are still essential to halting the virus’s spread, according to health experts.
However, these containment measures are putting more strain on disadvantaged households in a nation where an estimated 418,200 people already experience severe food poverty. WFP is providing emergency food assistance through cash transfers for a period of three months in response to a request from the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (Liberia) through the national Incident Management System.
The goal of the program is to guarantee that impacted families obtain food in a safe manner while adhering to isolation and other public health regulations. “For many families affected by the Mpox outbreak, isolation can quickly lead to hunger,” said Agbessi Amewoa, WFP Representative and Country Director in Liberia. “This assistance is critical to help people adhere to health measures without compromising their dignity, wellbeing, and access to food.”
Amewoa pointed out that the involvement coincides with a challenging time for the nation’s humanitarian efforts, since WFP has limited resources to continue its crisis response. WFP said it urgently needs an additional US$1 million in funding to continue providing emergency food and nutrition support for the next three months.
The largest humanitarian organization in the world, the United Nations World Food Program helps disadvantaged people develop resilience and recover from catastrophes while offering life-saving aid during emergencies.
Reported by: Prince Saah
