The United Nations World Food Program (WFP), a major organization funded in part by the United States, has announced the closure of its regional office in Southern Africa.
The decision was shared with staff worldwide via an email sent on Friday by WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.
“We have made the difficult decision to close the Southern Africa Regional Bureau in Johannesburg,” the email stated, as reported by Bloomberg.
A WFP spokesperson confirmed the closure to Reuters but did not provide details on whether the decision was related to recent cuts in U.S. aid ordered by President Donald Trump.
Regional Crisis Amid Severe Drought
Southern Africa continues to grapple with one of the worst droughts in recent years, leading countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia to declare national disasters.
The WFP has been providing food and cash assistance to those affected by the crisis, with the goal of reaching over 7.2 million people by the end of this month, according to the organization’s website.
