UN announces $40m fund to scale up emergency operations in Ethiopia

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Nov 16, 2021

APA-Addis Ababa UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths on Monday announced a $40 million fund to support life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians in Ethiopia. Griffiths said that millions of people in northern Ethiopia are now“ living on a knife-edge, as the humanitarian crisis is growing deeper and wider”. This new allocation…

APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths on Monday announced a $40 million fund to support life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians in Ethiopia.

Griffiths said that millions of people in northern Ethiopia are now “living on a knife-edge, as the humanitarian crisis is growing deeper and wider”.

After returning from visiting Ethiopia, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said that needs are rising across the country, and that the funds would help aid organizations reach some of the most vulnerable.

Women, boys and girls continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, yet their protection needs remain underfunded.

In the drought-affected Somali and Oromia regions of Ethiopia the additional funding will support early response and anticipatory action.

Relief agencies will provide drinking water to prevent waterborne diseases and mitigate the risk of cholera outbreaks. Agencies will also support pastoral communities to preserve their livestock.

According to the chief, $25 million of the total fund was secured from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) while the balance $15 million allocation from the country-based Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF).

This new allocation brings CERF’s support to Ethiopia this year to $65 million, making Ethiopia the second-highest recipient of CERF funds in 2021. Support from the EHF this year now totals some $80 million.

However, humanitarian operations throughout the country face a funding gap of $1.3 billion, including $350 million for the response in Tigray.

MG/abj/APA