Last Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) announced that the government needs 1.3 billion USD to reach to 8.3 million Ethiopians who need humanitarian assistance this budget year. The country has launched the 2019 Ethiopian Humanitarian Response plan last week in the presence of government officials, humanitarian allies, donor representatives and the media. On the occasion, NDRMC Commissioner Mitiku Kassa said that eight million people require emergency food or cash assistance of which 46, 22, 12 and 10 percent respectively are from Oromia, Somali, Amhara, and SNNP states. In addition, four percent each in Tigray and Afar regions need the assistance. The remaining citizens are from Gambela, Beninshangul Gumuz, Harari and Dire Dawa, he said.
According to Mitiku, among the eight million people who need food assistance, some 2.8 million are internally displaced people. The rest 5.5 mln are affected by natural disasters including consecutive drought and flooding. As to him, 60 percent of the fund would be covered by the government and the rest by partners. Some 4.4 million people are targeted for nutrition support, including 609, 961 children under five years intended to severe acute malnutrition treatment. In addition, the displaced people and returnees will get emergency shelter and non-food items assistance support, while millions will receive emergency health, water, education, protection and agriculture support until the end of the year.
The nation has been sequentially affected by climate change mishaps. Moreover, the political turmoil increased the number of citizens who need urgent support induced by internal displacement. On the occasion, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Aeneas Chuma noted that the Government’s leadership in addressing the demands of people affected by crisis across the country is commendable.
The UN understands the hindering factors ahead and the urgent need to scale up assistance. Therefore he said, today international humanitarian partners are committed to continue to closely work with government counterparts and to provide timely assistance to affected communities based on demands. “This is the humanitarian imperative we stand by, and a testament of our commitment and partnership with the people and government of Ethiopia. I call upon the international community to continue their generosity and to provide the required resources in time to help alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable people,” he added. Expressing the government’s thankfulness to partners and friends, who stood beside Ethiopians during this critical time, Mitiku said that the government is strongly committed to address the challenge.
As to him, currently the country is at a transition period, what he calls it ‘a time of hope and better opportunity to the country and the horn in general.’ “Some of the humanitarian challenges from conflict menace that have seen in recent months, and which is affecting many people is an unfortunate effect of transitional periods. But we will do our level best to overcome the challenges,” he added. Last year, the government supported 7.8 million people with emergency food or cash and nonfood assistance at a cost of 1.6 billion USD. The support also benefited the vulnerable citizens with water and sanitation, agriculture, relief food, nutrition, health, education, protection and shelter and non-food items. In 2016/17 only, the Afar and Somali states have faced severe drought. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society has supported 946,000 people who have been affected by El-Nino induced drought in ten months. The society has been supporting victims mainly concerning to assist mother and children by spending about 91 million Birr, Society Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communication Affairs Head Dr. Solomon Ali recently told The Ethiopian Herald. As to him, the society has supplied the victims with various assistance including water treatment chemicals, supplementary foods, sanitary services among others in the major affected areas such as Oromia, SNNPs states and West Hararghe zone. In 2018, 182,000 drought vulnerable households were supported. Among this, 41,660 citizens are under five children and pregnant mothers.
The support also includes assistance to the resettlement of the victims. In addition to the emergency assistance, the society has been also building the capacity of victim farmers by providing seed, animals and finance, he said. According to him, the society is closely working with the NDRMC for further assistance. “It is always ready to support affected people with food and nonfood assistance under its 177 branches in various districts across the country.” The society deposits about 30 percent of its fund secured from the partners only for emergency support, he stated. Last February, the ICRC and ERCS jointly distributed emergency relief assistance to people displaced by ethnic violence in Eastern Ethiopia. The humanitarian organizations distributed emergency relief aid to 690 families displaced in Ethiopia. This year, ERCS has secured some 56 million Birr for humanitarian aid from Austria, Canada, Danish, Swiss, Finnish Red Cross societies, International Red Cross Committee and International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent society among others.
Recently, Ethio Telecom also granted a 980,000 Birr worth ambulances to ERCS. It also pledged to enhance its support. In Ethiopia, single ambulance serves 3600 peoples per annum. As part of the resource mobilization schemes, the society announced members’ registration and fund mobilization through text message via 6546. Today the society has about six million active members to response to humanitarian calls. As the commissioner said, currently the country is at a transitional period which make the humanitarian activities more comprehensive and long term solution finding supports in one side and complex and merely fruitless effort on the flip side. In Ethiopia, there is still instability which might paves a way for more conflicts and displacements that could be additional challenge to reach to the victims.
On the other hand, the repeatedly expressed strong dedication from the government to bring peace and prosperity and hope of the people to see better future, stimulates humanitarians for more activities. In any case, the government and the people ought to collaborate to achieve a sustainable climate change resilient economy in line with stabilizing the nation thereby the supports from international partners would shift to development activities than consecutive (conventional) emergency funds.
Herald March 12/2019
BY YOHANES JEMANEH
