Ethiopia Seeks $300 Million in Emergency Aid to Assist Millions Affected by Drought and Conflict

The Ethiopian government is requesting 11 billion birr (around $300 million) in emergency humanitarian aid until June 2024 to assist over 8 million people affected by drought and conflict. The government is contributing 5.1 billion birr and seeking 5.9 billion birr from donors. This comes amid reports of a funding shortfall from the United Nations.

The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) has declared that an estimated 11 billion birr will be necessary to provide humanitarian aid until June 2024 to assist over 8 million people affected by drought and conflict. The Ethiopian government is expected to contribute 5.1 billion birr, while the remaining 5.9 billion birr is anticipated to come from donors and partner organizations.

Why this matters: The humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia has left millions in need of urgent assistance due to the devastating impacts of drought and ongoing conflicts. The funding shortfall reported by the UN highlights the critical need for international support to alleviate the suffering of affected populations and prevent further deterioration of the situation.

However, the United Nations has reported a funding shortfall, with only $287 million out of the $3.2 billion needed for the fiscal year being funded as of April 23, 2024. A recent high-level pledging event in Geneva received $630 million in pledges, falling short of the targeted $1 billion.

The EDRMC is actively collaborating with stakeholders to ensure the efficient distribution of aid, and has provided support to 6.6 million individuals during the previous quarter and 1.6 million individuals in the Tigray region and nearly 2 million residents in the Amhara region within the current fiscal year's initial six months.

The EU has also temporarily suspended certain elements of its visa regulations for Ethiopian nationals due to insufficient cooperation from Ethiopia on the readmission of its citizens illegally staying in the EU. The suspension includes a longer visa-processing period, and will remain in place until the Commission assesses progress on readmission cooperation.

As the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia persists, the Ethiopian government and international community are working to mobilize the necessary resources to provide life-saving assistance to the millions affected by drought and conflict. The EDRMC's efforts to collaborate with stakeholders and efficiently distribute aid have already reached a significant number of individuals in need. However, the funding shortfall reported by the UN underscores the urgency for increased international support to address the scale of the crisis and prevent further suffering.

Key Takeaways

• Ethiopia seeks $300M in emergency aid to assist 8M people affected by drought, conflict.
• Ethiopia to contribute $145M, seeking $155M from donors to meet $300M aid requirement.
• UN reports $3.2B funding shortfall, with only $287M out of $3.2B needed for FY 2024.
• EDRMC provided aid to 6.6M individuals last quarter, 1.6M in Tigray, 2M in Amhara.
• EU suspends visa regulations for Ethiopians due to insufficient cooperation on readmission.