Ethiopia

Overview

More than 25 million people in Ethiopia are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of internal conflict, displacement, and recurrent natural hazards. As at July 2022, an estimated 2.7 million people were displaced internally as a result of conflict (main driver of displacement in the country) and drought. Additional 2 million people are IDP returnees. These figures only capture accessible areas, with Tigray for example not included due to operational constraints. The country also hosts more than 876,000 refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan. Most of them have been living in camp settings in Benishangul Gumuz, Gambela, and Somali regions and in the capital city Addis Ababa.  

The country is affected by recurrent natural hazards, primarily drought and flooding. Several consecutive years of drought and a record fourth consecutive below-average rainfall in southern and southeastern Ethiopia have disrupted the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farmers and herders, resulted in the death of livestock, and led to a worsening food security situation. Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity is expected in drought-affected areas, including parts of Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ (SNNP) region, and South West Ethiopia Peoples’ (or South West) region. 

The resumption of fighting in northern Ethiopia since 24 August 2022, has made security in the area highly volatile with airstrikes reported frequently, insecurity recorded along the Tigray-Eritrea boarder, and the conflict spilling into the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara and a deterioration of people’s living conditions including food insecurity, increased malnutrition rates, and overcrowded collective centres sheltering the displaced. Resource constraints (partial blockade of banking and cash transfers, is limiting humanitarian activities and access to resources needed to deliver aid) and limited coordination continue to restrict the ability to upscale humanitarian services, keeping humanitarian needs high. 

Conflict in other regions, such as Benishangul Gumuz (particularly Metekel and Kemashi zones) and Oromia (including Wellega and Guji zones), continues to affect people’s freedom of movement and livelihood activities. The situation has resulted in mass displacement and subsequent humanitarian needs. The needs of IDPs have largely remained unmet because of the volatile security situation and major humanitarian access constraints.  

INFORM ranks Ethiopia’s risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster as very high at 6.8/10. The lack of coping capacity stands at 6.8/10 and vulnerability at 6.4/10. ?

Latest Developments

More than 10,000 people were displaced from Western Oromia to Amhara in the first half of December due to the increasing insecurity. They are staying in host communities and IDP sites in Amhara region. Jara IDP site (N Wollo) and the Turkish site in (S Wollo) have reopened to accommodate the influx of IDPs. Shelter, food, NFIs and protection are needed. ?