Humanitarian Assistance for Internally Displaced People in Ethiopia - Save the Children 2021

February 2021 - Prior to the outbreak of conflict in the Tigray region in late 2020 Ethiopia was already facing ongoing acute humanitarian need arising from sporadic but widespread intercommunal conflict regional drought and flooding swarms of desert locusts the economic pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of hosting nearly 800 000 refugees throughout the country. Together these crises have led to widespread food insecurity high levels of acute malnutrition and significant population displacement. Although ongoing fighting and other access restrictions have hindered full needs assessments in Tigray an estimated 29 million people in Ethiopia are likely to require humanitarian assistance in 2021. With GAC’s support Save the Children is preventing and treating acute malnutrition improving access to healthcare and increasing the availability of safe water and sanitation amongst drought- and conflict-affected internally displaced persons (IDP) and host communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. Project activities include: (1) providing training and support for local health facilities; (2) identifying and treating acute malnutrition; and (3) rehabilitating or constructing water points and sanitation facilities at health centres and in IDP settlements.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced rates of morbidity and mortality due to illness including acute malnutrition or injury; and (2) reduced spread of water-borne disease and COVID-19. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.