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Current Requirements (US$)$1.49 billion
Analysis of the context, crisis and needs
Despite positive political developments, in 2020, the population of Ethiopia continues to face uncertainty over political transition due to the ongoing conflict; climate shocks (droughts, floods); desert locust invasion and the ongoing socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the most marginalized and at-risk population groups have been impacted by multiple shocks, creating an emerging protection crisis. During the Mid-Year Review of the 2020 HRP, the number of people targeted for humanitarian assistance doubled from 7 to 15.1 million.
Since the end of 2017, displacement due to inter-ethnic conflict has emerged as a significant driver of humanitarian needs in Ethiopia. Over the last three years, more than 3 million people have been internally displaced due to conflict. Since 30 September 2020, more than 1.3 million people had either been returned to their areas of origin or relocated to other places. However, durable solutions have in most cases not been attained and residual protection and assistance needs, resulting from their displacement continue, including the need for continued humanitarian assistance. In addition, increased insecurity and localized conflict have not only created protection concerns for the population at large, but have also posed intermittent access challenges for aid workers. At the end of 2020, a conflict between Federal and regional armed forces in Tigray, added a new challenge to the complex humanitarian situation. The conflict is expected to deepen the humanitarian needs of the 850,000 vulnerable people already targeted in the 2020 HRP and generate additional needs.
Hamdayet, Sudan
An Ethiopian refugee and her child collect mats at a transit site in Hamdayet, Sudan. The number of Ethiopian refugees streaming into eastern Sudan has now surpassed 40,000 since the crisis began, with more than 5,000 women, children and men fleeing the ongoing fighting in the Tigray region over one weekend. Particularly vulnerable people have been identified and referred to relevant services. Hot meals are being provided and more water points and latrines constructed.
UNHCR/Olivier JobardFloods continue to affect and displace thousands every year. Between June and September 2020, prolonged kiremt rains led to flooding and landslides in six regions. The National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) reports in September indicated that about 1 million people were affected and more than 30,000 people were displaced by floods in 2020.
Refugees hosted across the country have been impacted by border closures and travel restrictions as their access to asylum was compromised. In addition, more than 200,000 refugee children have been out of school due to the ongoing pandemic.
Over the last three years, more than 8 million people, on average, were targeted annually with humanitarian food assistance. In 2020 the number of people in need increased to 11.7 million, in part due to the worst desert locust outbreak in 25 years. As of the end of August 2020, the number of children admitted for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment reached unprecedented levels. Over 37,000 SAM children were admitted each month for four consecutive months (13.2% increase in 2020 compared to 2019) and over 1.5 million children, pregnant women and nursing mothers were affected by moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).
Projected situation in 2021 and beyond
The combination and recurrence of multiple, simultaneous, compounded shocks, including conflict, communicable diseases, drought, floods, desert locusts as well as the impact of COVID-19 will continue to put people at risk and undermine their capacity to recover from shocks.
Tensions and conflict may result in continued and further displacement and pose protection risks in different parts of Ethiopia. The run-up to the national elections scheduled for mid-2021 will see deepened ethnic tensions with localized instability and displacement well after the elections.
Changes in the humanitarian context brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately impacted crisis-affected communities. This situation is likely to further deteriorate due to the economic crisis and result in employment losses, not only in Ethiopia but also for migrants who are forced to return home. In 2020, at least 53,490 migrants have been returned to Ethiopia.
Evolution of needs and requirements (2016 - 2021)
Outbreaks of measles and endemic diseases will put further strain on health facilities strained by the pandemic. Coupled with the pandemic, the desert locust invasion has contributed to increased food insecurity and the impact will continue to affect agricultural outputs in 2021 as new generations of desert locusts breed.
Early projections indicate that the spring rains in 2021 will likely be below average with regional drought conditions expected, impacting negatively on crop producers dependent on the Belg as well as on those dependent on long-cycle crops and the Meher.
Lack of livelihoods and inability to meet basic needs leads to an increase in negative coping strategies compounding protection risks, including but not limited, to child labor, early marriage, and transactional sex. In addition, the conflict in Tigray will likely increase protection risks, nutrition/health status, and displacement both within and outside the country.
Response Priorities in 2021
The crisis in Ethiopia is quickly becoming a protection crisis and partners will prioritize protection-related interventions in 2021. Due to the complex context in which Ethiopia finds itself, the humanitarian community will pay particular attention to and ensure the centrality of protection across the response.
Responding to the increasing rate of displacement and the search for durable solutions for those displaced will also be a priority in 2021. A multi-sectoral humanitarian response to the immediate needs of IDPs will include the provision of core relief items to an estimated 1.6 million IDPs, as well as the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services to more than 710,000 IDPs. This is in addition to a concerted effort towards durable solutions for displaced people.
Biyodidley, Ethiopia
A group of farmers tries to make a cloud of smoke, marking their location to an aerial spraying operation. Hoppers have fledged, and an increasing number of small immature and mature swarms have continued to devour crop and pasture fields in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and Somali regional states.
FAO/Michael TeweldeAddressing the aggravating impact of COVID-19 on the conditions of people in need of humanitarian assistance will also be a major priority. Mainstream response has encountered a diversion of resources, reduced funding for non-COVID needs, as well as reduced operational capacity due to the impact of the pandemic. The Country Team will among other things prioritize preparedness and response activities including water, sanitation and hygiene services at health facilities and schools to prevent COVID-19 as well as water-borne diseases. Particular attention will be paid to the needs and protection of vulnerable groups such as women, girls, old persons and people with disabilities.
Food insecurity has been a protracted issue in Ethiopia for the past 50 years. Each year, for the last 4 years, approximately 3.4 million people have been chronically dependent on food assistance, A combination of the desert locust invasion, unfavorable impacts of COVID-19, as well as the multiple factors driving humanitarian need and the increasing number of returning migrants, have increased the number of people requiring emergency food and nutrition assistance in both rural and urban communities. An estimated 12.9 million highly food insecure people will be targeted with emergency food assistance. Livelihoods interventions will be prioritized in areas affected by desert locusts.
Nutrition partners will aim at reaching more than 460,000 children affected by severe acute malnutrition to be admitted for treatment and close to 3 million children with moderate acute malnutrition, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Further reading
Source: OCHA
Source: Humanitarian Insight
Source: Financial Tracking Service
References
- As of 30 of September IOM reported 53,490 returned migrants to Ethiopia in 2020.