Ethiopia

At least 21 million Ethiopians shoulder the weight of multi-faceted, often overlapping, humanitarian situations driven by man-made and natural hazards, including conflict, climatic shocks (drought and floods), and disease outbreaks. The most vulnerable people’s food insecurity and malnutrition levels have deepened, and at least 4.4 million displaced people are in temporary shelters and with host communities across the country. This, for Ethiopia, comes on top of being the third largest refugee hosting African country with over 942,000 refugees that require assistance across 24 active camps and sites.

Ethiopia has, over the past several years, been affected by recurring droughts, increasing in both duration and frequency. Caused by five consecutive failed rainy seasons, the prolonged (late-2020-2023) drought in the eastern and southern parts of the country was considered the most severe the country has seen in 40 years. While sufficient rainfall in March-May 2023 has given relief (water availability and pasture) to these drought-affected areas, recovery from the drought will take several years. Major flooding incidents during the two main rainy seasons in 2023 have also displaced many and destroyed livelihoods and social infrastructure. 

In addition to drought and flood emergencies, millions of people across Ethiopia are displaced by the conflict in northern Ethiopia (2020-2022) and ongoing hostilities and violence in Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Afar, Benishangul Gumuz and Gambela regions. The impact of conflict goes beyond displacement and affects local communities’ access to social services, disrupts markets and hinders humanitarian operations.

Multiple disease outbreaks have also been reported around the country because of people’s deepening vulnerability compounded by the lack of adequate access to social services.

Protracted displacements (most over three years) across the country will require continued humanitarian assistance, pending full recovery and rehabilitation. 

Heavy spring rains are projected to cause flooding, affecting an estimated 2 million people and displacing some 1 million people. The ongoing cholera outbreak is considered the longest ever recorded in the country, since the existence of the disease was established in August 2022. Outbreak management and control efforts are ongoing as of early 2024. 

Overall food insecurity is expected to gradually increase and peak to over 10 million people requiring assistance in July-September 2024, coinciding with the lean season. 

More than US$3 billion is required to reach 15.5 million people with life-saving assistance in 2024 under the leadership of the Government of Ethiopia. Partners will prioritize a scale up of response on food, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene services particularly in areas affected by the new drought, continue lifesaving and protection assistance in areas of displacement and supported the return of voluntary internally displaced people with safety and dignity where possible. 

The scale up of response to disease outbreaks and overall facilitation of unimpeded access and delivery of relief supplies, including in hard-to-reach areas will also be a priority in 2024. 

At the same time, humanitarian partners will strengthen the linkages with development and peace partners to work toward achieving sustainable solutions through focusing on critical resilience activities.