Published: March 13, 2026
MONROVIA — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with Liberia’s Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has launched a US$1 million three-month emergency response to provide food and nutrition support to 11,500 people affected by the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Liberia.
The initiative targets individuals and families placed under isolation and public health surveillance whose access to food and livelihoods has been disrupted by the disease containment measures.
The launch ceremony was held at the Ministry of Health at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia. The program aims to support recovery efforts, strengthen community resilience and help contain the spread of the disease through targeted assistance to affected households.
Emergency Support Amid Rising Mpox Cases
Agbessi Amewoa, WFP Representative and Country Director in Liberia, said the intervention will address urgent food and nutrition needs for families impacted by the outbreak across all 15 counties as cases continue to rise nationwide.
He disclosed that the rapid response initiative is made possible through the support of the Mastercard Foundation.
Amewoa noted that Mpox was first detected in Liberia in January 2024 and has since evolved into a sustained public health challenge.
“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,” he said.
Food Assistance to Support Public Health Measures
According to Amewoa, public health interventions such as isolation, contact tracing and community surveillance remain key strategies in controlling the outbreak.
However, he warned that food insecurity could undermine compliance with those measures.
“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,” he said.
“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,” Amewoa disclosed.
The support will prioritize Mpox patients in isolation, individuals under contact monitoring and communities identified as having the highest epidemiological risk.
“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,” he said.
Funding Challenges and Appeal
Amewoa noted that the intervention comes at a time when the WFP is facing significant funding constraints in sustaining its crisis response activities 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,” he said.
“To sustain emergency food and nutrition assistance the next three months, WFP urgently requires US$1 million.”
Government Welcomes Intervention
Speaking on behalf of Health Minister Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto during the launch, Dr. Gobee Logan said the initiative will help ease the economic burden on families affected by the outbreak.
He emphasized that the intervention will support households in complying with isolation and prevention measures while ensuring they maintain access to basic food needs.
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