Ethiopia: Humanitarian Response Plan 2024 (February 2024)

Foreword by the Commissioner

Climate change impact and conflicts in different parts of the nation have continued to present multiple humanitarian challenges, including impacting years of investments made in social and economic infrastructure.

Ethiopia’s vulnerability to climate change has been a reality for decades. Climate change-induced weather shocks continue to impact the most vulnerable – people who cannot be held responsible for contributing excessively to global heating.

After five consecutive failed rainy seasons since late-2020, communities affected by the prolonged drought in southern and south eastern Ethiopia were relieved to receive good 2023 belg rains. This brought temporary solace through replenished water sources and rejuvenated pasture. However, continued assistance is critical whilst recovery materializes over the next few years.

At the start of 2024, another priority for the Government of Ethiopia, its humanitarian partners, and impacted communities is mobilizing an early response to the intensifying El Niño-driven drought that has hit communities in northern Ethiopia the hardest at a time when food assistance by partners was paused due to the unfortunate and deplorable incidents of aid diversion. The Government of Ethiopia, the private sector and the local community worked together to provide life-saving food assistance during this critical period, and continue to do so now with limited available resources. The projected belg season flooding is also another effect of climate change that needs to be addressed early to mitigate the worst impact in 2024.

Whilst the two-year-long conflict in northern Ethiopia ended, there are still ongoing security challenges in some parts of the country, which are also creating humanitarian needs and challenges to respond.

The Government is doing the needful to address new and protracted crises across the country, but there is a need for enhanced solidarity amongst all stakeholders to respond to the growing needs and to avert the risk of disaster.

More than US$3 billion is required to respond this year, including to the food needs of some 10.4 million people. The task ahead of us is enormous, but it is my utmost belief that we can do better than in previous years in maximizing our partnerships and engagement – bringing together local and international partners, backed with generous donor support – to successfully achieve the ambitions of this 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan.

The Government sincerely appreciates the continuing support and partnership from our donors and humanitarian agencies. We remain committed to jointly address urgent humanitarian needs across the country, while also working together to invest in resilience building and durable solutions where possible.

H.E. Ambassador Shiferaw Teklemariam
Commissioner for the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission