The Issue
The conflict in northern Ethiopia between the federal government and Tigray forces started in November 2020 and ended with a peace agreement in November 2022. While the heaviest fighting
happened in Tigray, the neighboring Afar region also experienced significant violence, particularly from mid-2021 to mid-2022. During this time, clashes in southern Afar led to the displacement of approximately 300,000 people alongside numerous casualties and injuries.
Afar remains deeply affected by the aftermath of the conflict, especially due to the presence of explosive remnants of war (ERW) such as landmines and unexploded ordnance. These remnants pose an ongoing threat to civilians, impede safe return and resettlement, and hinder access to farmland, water sources, and essential services.
According to DanChurchAid’s assessment conducted in November 2024, along with information obtained from the Rehabilitation and Development Organization (RaDO), 686 individuals in Afar’s Zones 1, 2, and 4 of Afar region have been directly affected by explosive weapons. Alarmingly, 473 of those affected are women, highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
In response to these challenges, DCA is implementing Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) activities in, Berhale, Wasema and Abaala woredas in Zone 2 of Afar region, to address the immediate and long-term risks posed by explosive remnants of war. This includes providing life-saving assistance to survivors, raising awareness of mine risks within communities, and facilitating referrals to specialized services. DCA is an accredited HMA partner and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO), which is part of the Ministry of Defense.
The Project
DanChurchAid (DCA) is implementing a targeted Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) response in Afar to reduce the risks and impacts of explosive ordnance (EO) on conflict-affected communities. The intervention focuses on three key areas:
Victim Assistance: DCA identifies EO survivors, assesses their needs, and refers them to medical, psychosocial, and rehabilitation services. Cash assistance is provided to help survivors meet urgent needs and begin rebuilding their lives. Immediate psychosocial support is also offered, with special attention to women, children, and persons with disabilities.
Risk Education: DCA delivers Mine Risk Education (MRE) in displacement sites, schools, and returnee communities, focusing on vulnerable groups such as children and displaced populations. These sessions raise awareness and promote safe behavior to prevent future accidents.
Capacity Building: Training is provided for DCA staff, local NGOs and communities to deliver mine action activities and support survivors. Additionally, DCA provides logistical and operational support to the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) to enable safe and effective field operations in hazardous areas.
Together, these efforts aim to restore safety, support recovery, and build long-term resilience in EO-affected communities in Afar.
The Change
The project targets Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities in Berhale, Wasema, and Aba’ala woredas of Afar region, all affected by explosive weapons. By combining direct assistance with improved coordination and stronger local systems, the intervention aims to enhance the safety, recovery, and resilience of these communities.
Outcome 1: Improved Quality of Life for Survivors
Survivors of explosive incidents benefited from comprehensive support including medical referrals, functional rehabilitation, psychosocial care, and trainings. A service directory mapped available services, while cash assistance empowers survivors to pursue employment aligned with their physical and emotional needs.
In parallel, community-wide awareness is raised through tailored Mine Risk Education (MRE) sessions. These sessions target vulnerable groups such as children, youth, and displaced populations, promoting safe behaviors and reducing the risk of future accidents.
Outcome 2: Strengthened Governance for Explosive Hazard Management
The project builds the capacity of national and local actors, including support to the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO), to ensure fair, responsive, and locally led management of explosive threats.
Outcome 3: Improved Coordination with Broader Humanitarian Efforts
Explosive hazard response is coordinated with other humanitarian and recovery programs, ensuring a more integrated, efficient, and impactful response in affected communities.
Our Partners
DanChurchAid (DCA) works with key national and technical partners to ensure effective and coordinated mine action in Afar. The Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) is DCA’s main national partner, leading clearance operations and coordination. DCA supports EMAO with logistics and capacity strengthening to enhance operational reach.
UNMAS acts as the national coordinator for mine action efforts, ensuring alignment with national priorities and technical standards. DCA also partners with RaDO on victim assistance and referrals, and engages with Ethio professionals Security Solution (EPSS,) a national organization, to exchange information and explore opportunities for capacity building.
These partnerships ensure a nationally led, context-specific, and technically sound intervention.
Our Work
DCA has supported relief projects in Ethiopia since the 1970s. It operated through local partners since 1982 and in 2004 the country office in Addis Ababa was established. DCA has field offices in Sekota-Waghimra (Amhara Region), Semera (Afar Region), Robe Town (Bale, Oromia Region) and Gambella city (Gambella Region). DCA Ethiopia’s programme interventions target rural, peri-urban and urban poor, Inter, refugees and their hosting communities as direct beneficiaries. DCA works across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to bring about sustainability and cohesion. Additionally, DCA introduces innovative and appropriate technologies to address vulnerability, fill in knowledge and skills gaps, build local capacity, and when applicable, works closely with the private sector.
About the project
- Title: Humanitarian Mine Action Response: Victim Assistance in conflict-affected areas of Afar region, Ethiopia
- Timeline: 01/01/2025 – 31/12/2025
- Partner(s): Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO), UNMAS, RaDO
- Amount: 700,000 DKK
- Donor: DANIDA (DCA Humanitarian Crisis Fund)
