Humanitarian Response to Vulnerable Groups in Ethiopia

DanChurchAid in Ethiopia

Background 

Reports show that in December 2020, there were 337,410 South Sudanese refugees in Gambella and 51,777 Eritrean refugees in Afar. Increasing number of refugees coupled with limited livelihood opportunities and limited resources by WFP and UNHCR makes it difficult for the UN and the Ethiopian government to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to the refugees and host communities. 

Additionally, a substantial number of internally displaced Ethiopians reside in Bale zone, Oromia region. The IDPs (Internally Displaced People) fled from Oromia/Somali border areas due to ethnic disputes that started in 2017 and erupted again in 2020. Likewise, the ongoing conflict in Tigray Region has resulted in the displacement of people from Tigray region as well as bordering districts in Afar.  

Intervention  

This action, hence, contributes towards meeting the most acute food security and nutrition needs of South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Gambella through the provision of electronic vouchers (e-vouchers) for fresh food support, increasing food access and diversity, and treatment of acutely under-nourished children through a community-based approach while addressing underlying causes of undernutrition.

The action also targets Eritrean refugees, vulnerable host communities, and IDPs from Tigray in Afar with multipurpose cash transfers to cover the unmet needs of these populations with a special emphasis on increasing their access to food and other basic emergency services. 

Similarly, displaced IDPs from the Oromo/Somali conflict residing in Bale are targeted with a similar intervention.