Ongoing drought compounds complex situation in Ethiopia’s refugee hosting communities: UNHCR
“The drought is compounding a complex situation in the Somali region of Ethiopia that was already host to millions of internally displaced people, including those forced to flee because of conflict, as well as some 246,000 refugees from neighboring Somalia in eight camps, which have already received some 16,000 new arrivals,” the UNHCR said.
ADDIS ABABA, June 29 (Xinhua) — The ongoing drought is compounding a complex situation in Ethiopia’s Somali region, which hosts millions of internally displaced people, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned.
Ethiopia is experiencing one of the most severe La Nina-induced droughts in the last 40 years following four consecutive failed rainy seasons since late 2020.
The UN refugee agency, in a statement issued late Tuesday, said the ongoing drought condition is further exacerbating existing humanitarian needs across the affected areas, particularly the Somali region of Ethiopia.
“The drought is compounding a complex situation in the Somali region of Ethiopia that was already host to millions of internally displaced people, including those forced to flee because of conflict, as well as some 246,000 refugees from neighboring Somalia in eight camps, which have already received some 16,000 new arrivals,” the UNHCR said.
Other drought-affected regions in the East African country include Afar, Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP).
The UNHCR said despite concerted efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the affected communities, people’s needs continue to rise as the drought worsens.
In Ethiopia, UNHCR and other humanitarian partners are scaling up assistance to meet the rising needs, in support of the Ethiopian government.
According to the UNHCR, in the Somali region of Ethiopia, humanitarian partners are supporting more than 2.4 million displaced people with food and working to deliver clean water to more than 859,000 people.
“However, existing needs continue to surpass available resources,” the UN refugee agency said.
On Tuesday, UNHCR appealed for 42.6 million U.S. dollars life-saving aid to help millions affected by the catastrophic drought in the Horn of Africa (HOA).
It said the funding will deliver life-saving assistance and protection to some 1.5 million refugees, internally displaced people (IDP) and local host communities affected by the drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
It said food shortages have been further exacerbated by rising food and commodity prices due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict, as the cost of food staples, including grain and cereal prices, has risen significantly. Enditem
