Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund – Tigray – OCHA 2020

November 2020 - Conflict between the Federal Government of Ethiopia forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray Regional State has led to a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation. Prior to the outbreak of conflict more than 850 000 people in the region were already facing food insecurity due to a severe desert locust infestation and the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The ongoing conflict is causing significant new population displacement increased food insecurity and health risks and serious protection concerns affecting an estimated additional 1.1 million people. Humanitarian access to those in need in a shifting security environment also remains a serious challenge. With GAC’s support and through the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is providing funding to United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. This funding works to respond to newly emerging crises and shifting/deteriorating humanitarian situations throughout the year including the conflict in the Tigray region. Project activities include: (1) supporting life-saving activities by filling critical funding gaps; (2) promoting needs-based assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles; (3) strengthening coordination of humanitarian assistance; (4) improving the relevance and coherence of humanitarian response by strategically funding priorities as identified under the Humanitarian Response Plan; and (5) expanding the delivery of humanitarian assistance in hard-to-reach areas of the country by partnering with local and international non-governmental organizations.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved coordination of the humanitarian response to effectively address priority humanitarian needs; (2) improved timeliness in implementing life-saving activities; (3) increased humanitarian access by partnering more effectively with local non-governmental humanitarian organizations; and (4) increased oversight and monitoring of humanitarian assistance projects in hard-to-reach areas. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are facing acute food insecurity.