Ethiopia - Emergency Health Care - Doctors Without Borders Canada 2017

March 2017 – While Ethiopia continues to battle the residual humanitarian and recovery needs arising from the 2015-2016 El Niño-induced drought below average rains in the southern and eastern parts of the country have led to new symptoms of drought in these areas. Current assessments indicate that 5.6 million people require food assistance; 300 000 children face acute malnutrition; 9.2 million people are without safe drinking water and 2.4 million households need livestock support. In addition Ethiopia also hosts the second largest number of refugees in Africa more than 820 000 people from Eritrea Somalia South Sudan Sudan and several other countries. With GAC’s support Doctors Without Borders Canada is providing emergency health care support to an estimated 724 500 South Sudanese refugees and host community members living in the Gambella region of Ethiopia.

The expected outcome for this project include is improved access to healthcare amongst South Sudanese refugees and host communities in Ethiopia. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or that are food insecure.