Drought and Conflict in Ethiopia - Doctors without Borders Canada 2014

March 2014 - Ethiopia continues to face significant humanitarian challenges including chronic drought in many areas of the country widespread food insecurity ongoing conflict in the south-eastern Somali Region and the impact of hosting a large number of Somali Sudanese and Eritrean refugees on its soil. According to the Government of Ethiopia and United Nations estimates at least 2.7 million people (2.3 million Ethiopians and 400 000 refugees) will require humanitarian assistance including food assistance nutritional and medical support and water and sanitation in 2014. With DFATD’s support Doctors without Borders Canada is helping to provide access to proper medical care to drought and conflict-affected people in Somali Regional State. Activities include: (1) supporting two regional hospitals four district health centres and nine health posts that are providing a wide range of medical services including emergency surgery to a local population of at least 478 000 people; (2) conducting immunization outreach campaigns in cooperation with local officials; and (3) supporting local government efforts to prevent and treat acute malnutrition.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to basic healthcare services for people living in the Doolo and Jerar Zones of Somali Regional State; (2) decreased spread of preventable diseases in the target area; and (3) reduced rates of malnutrition amongst target populations. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people particularly women and children.