Ethiopia is facing a humanitarian crisis. Drought, floods and violence have left 21.4 million people in need of aid.
Written by Tarryn Pegna | 26 Mar 2024
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Ethiopia is facing a humanitarian crisis. Violence and climate shocks, such as ongoing drought and flash floods, have left more than 21.4 million people in urgent need of basic essentials like food and clean water. Around 4.4 million people have been internally displaced* as many abandon their homes in a desperate attempt to find food and water for their families and livestock.
Tearfund and our local partners are helping provide essential aid for people facing the worst of the crisis. This includes immediate needs like food, water and cash, as well as referral services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). When people are forced to flee their homes, one of the most difficult and unfair things that often also happens is an increase in incidents of SGBV.
A large proportion of the population in Ethiopia relies on farming to survive and so, alongside this, we are helping farmers to build resilience against drought through improved farming methods.
‘Around 4.4 million people have been internally displaced as many abandon their homes in a desperate attempt to find food and water for their families and livestock.’
Humanitarian need in Oromia Region, Ethiopia
In Ethiopia’s Oromia region right now, it’s estimated that there are up to 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps or with host communities.
There are also more than 300,000 people who previously left the area in the hope of finding better conditions elsewhere, but have now returned and are in urgent need of food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH**) assistance and access to health care.
However, violent clashes between Government and non-state armed groups have made it extremely difficult to reach some of these communities.
Because of this, the most recent OCHA*** situation report for Ethiopia says that, ‘In 2023,… little over 100,000 people out of a targeted 800,000 people received emergency shelter and non-food item assistance across [Oromia Region].’ The report goes on to point out that one of the major needs facing those people who have returned to the area is for support in rebuilding their livelihoods.
Flood Alert in Ethiopia
On top of all of this, the Government in Ethiopia has issued an alert for the 2024 March–May rainy season, calling for people to be prepared for flooding. Through the early warning, they hope to help save lives and help farmers mitigate the effects on their crops and belongings, but over two million people are expected to be affected with about a million possibly being displaced.
‘The Government in Ethiopia has issued an alert for the 2024 March–May rainy season, calling for people to be prepared for flooding.’
How is Tearfund responding in Ethiopia?
To respond to these issues, Tearfund and our local partners are working in the following ways:
- In the East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Tearfund and our local partner, the Ethiopian Kale Hiwot Church, are using funding from the Dutch Government to provide people with WASH assistance, cash help and access to food, as well as support to rebuild their livelihoods. This project started in January and is expected to reach about 55,000 people over the next three years.
- In the Borena Zone, a predominantly farming area of the Oromia Region, Tearfund and local partners are using money received from our supporters through last year’s to help 11,660 people (5,750 men and 5,910 women) in two drought-affected communities to get their farming up and running again.
- In the Konso Zone of the South Regional State of Ethiopia and the Borena Zone in the Oromia Region, Tearfund is also delivering a programme to help farmers adapt their farming methods to be more resilient in the changing climate. Funding for this has come from the GSMA Foundation to help 20,000 small-scale farmers and their communities who have been severely affected by the prolonged drought. Tearfund, in partnership with a local and a UK-based insurer, two tech companies and the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, is helping them to access insurance specifically to protect their crops and livestock from ongoing drought.As part of this project, we are also helping farmers to access up-to-date weather forecasts as well as farming advice which can help them to be prepared and make decisions that will protect their crops or at least limit any damage caused by weather events.
Tearfund’s ability to respond when situations like this arise is only thanks to the generosity and faithfulness of our supporters. We appreciate your prayers, and if you would like to donate so that we can continue to respond, please do so here.
*People who have been forced to flee their homes and find safety in other places within the country are often referred to as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Refugees are those who seek safety across country borders.
**WASH is the acronym commonly used to talk about provision of clean, safe water – both for drinking and for hygiene purposes to keep people safe from waterborne diseases that can be deadly, particularly to young children.
*** OCHA stands for [United Nations] Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Pray for Ethiopia
- Pray for the millions of people in Ethiopia facing hunger and loss of homes and livelihoods. Ask for God’s provision in this immense humanitarian emergency.
- Ask God for resilience, protection and hope for aid organisations as they work to meet urgent needs.
- Pray for wisdom and blessing over the work of Tearfund partners helping with lifesaving relief, livelihood recovery and innovative solutions. May their efforts be multiplied to reach those who need it most.
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