WFP launches emergency food assistance for Mpox-affected people across Liberia

As cases rise nationwide, the operation will meet urgent food and nutrition needs for families and communities affected by public health measures across all 15 counties. This rapid response is made possible through partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

Mpox was first detected in Liberia in January 2024. The outbreak intensified through 2025 and has continued into 2026 with sustained transmissions. Government health statistics indicate more than 1,600 confirmed cases, over 10,000 contacts listed, and 190 people currently under active follow-up.

Public health measures-including isolation, contact monitoring, and community surveillance-remain essential to controlling the outbreak. But in a country where 418,200 women, men, and children face acute food insecurity, lack of food can undermine households' ability to fully comply with isolation requirements.

At the request of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), and in close coordination with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners through the Incident Management System (IMS), WFP is providing three months of emergency food assistance through cash transfers. The support prioritizes patients in isolation, contacts under surveillance, and communities at the highest epidemiological risk-helping families access food safely while complying with public health measures.

"For many families affected by the Mpox outbreak, isolation can quickly lead to hunger. This assistance is critical to help people adhere to health measures without compromising their dignity, wellbeing, and access to food," said Agbessi Amewoa, WFP Representative and Country Director in Liberia. "The funding and support for this operation comes at a critical time, as WFP faces severe funding shortages for its crisis response in Liberia. We are extremely grateful to the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership, and to the Ministry of Health and NPHIL for their continued trust and close collaboration in the national Mpox response," Amewoa added.

To sustain emergency food and nutrition assistance \the next three months, WFP urgently requires US$1 million.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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