Ethiopia – Response to Drought and Conflict – Save the Children Canada 2020

March 2020 – Ongoing drought and population displacement caused by intercommunal conflict since late 2017 have left at least 8.4 million Ethiopians in need of humanitarian assistance including emergency food rations treatment for acute malnutrition and other healthcare services and safe water and sanitation services. Additionally some 700 000 refugees from South Sudan Somalia Eritrea and Sudan are now living within Ethiopia’s borders and remain reliant on international assistance to meet their basic needs. With GAC’s support Save the Children Canada is providing essential health and nutrition support to an estimated 42 000 people affected by drought or conflict in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Project activities include: (1) providing training and materiel support to local health centres; and (2) coordinating activities to strengthen local response to sexual and gender-based violence.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to healthcare services including sexual and reproductive health services and treatment for acute malnutrition; and (2) reduced incidence and impact of sexual and gender-based violence amongst drought and conflict-affected populations in Ethiopia’s Somali region. 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.