ETHIOPIA — Ethiopia, a country grappling with the aftermath of a brutal conflict that began in 2020, is now facing a dire humanitarian crisis as 1.2 million children are battling acute malnutrition.
The conflict involved Ethiopian Government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the northern regions.
Although a peace deal was brokered by the African Union, ending the fighting in November, its repercussions continue to haunt the nation.
Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, Stéphane Dujarric, the UN Spokesperson, highlighted the extensive efforts being made by humanitarian organizations to provide aid and support to vulnerable populations across Ethiopia.
One of the pressing concerns is the cholera outbreak in regions like Oromia, Sidama, the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region, as well as Somali regions.
According to national authorities, over 16,800 cholera cases, including 212 related deaths, have been reported as of August 2.
In addition to addressing the cholera crisis, medical supplies are being dispatched for the response to malaria, which has affected more than 1.7 million people and claimed 200 lives as of July 30.
Dujarric emphasized that a coordinated effort involving over 30 UN agencies and international and national NGOs is underway to combat the effects of malnutrition, which continues to plague several regions, including Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, South West, and Tigray.
In recent months, significant strides have been made in providing nutrition support to mothers and children in Amhara and Southern Oromia, with cash transfers reaching more than 310,000 individuals in the Somali region.
Additionally, over 850,000 men, women, and children in drought-affected areas have received cash support.
Dujarric stressed the importance of timely measures, stating that “timely food assistance, prepositioning of emergency drugs, and medical supplies for impacted people are necessary” as more than 1.2 million children are battling severe acute malnutrition in Ethiopia.
However, funding remains a critical issue, with the US$4 billion humanitarian appeal for Ethiopia in 2023 being only 27 percent funded. The food sector has received less than 25 percent of the required US$2.2 billion.
Four months ago, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to suspend food aid to Ethiopia due to widespread thefts and diversions of critical aid within the country.
However, the agency has recently initiated the distribution of food supplies in select districts of the Tigray region, implementing enhanced controls and measures to ensure the effective delivery of food assistance.
The situation remains complex, and efforts are ongoing to alleviate the suffering of the Ethiopian people in the face of this humanitarian crisis.
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