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Current Requirements (US$)$3.99 billion
Analysis of the context, crisis and needs
People in Ethiopia continue to face multiple and overlapping humanitarian emergencies. The adverse impacts of climate change, conflict and disease outbreaks, coupled with global poor macroeconomic conditions and high inflation leading to high commodity and food prices, have contributed to escalating humanitarian and protection needs across the country.
The number of people in need has significantly increased because of the worsening drought and conflict in parts of the country. As of October 2022, more than 4.7 million people across the country are estimated to be internally displaced people (IDPs), mostly due to conflict and drought.
The conflict in northern Ethiopia has resulted in massive population movements, including waves of displacement, secondary displacement and returns, with many returnees going back to areas where basic services are not operational due to damaged and destroyed civilian infrastructure and facilities. The conflict has also caused significant negative impacts on humanitarian operations in and around Tigray, Amhara and Afar Regions.
The humanitarian situation worsened in late August, resulting in further displacements against the backdrop of the suspension of aid convoys’ movement into Tigray by road and air. The signing of a comprehensive peace agreement in November 2022 is a promising step towards stabilization of the situation. However, months, if not years, are needed for humanitarian operators to be able to address the high magnitude of humanitarian needs in the northern parts of the country.
Azati Kitli Returnee Village, Benishangul-Gumuz Region
These displaced people make and sell a local brew from wheat, which provides income and nutrition.
OCHA/Liz Loh-TaylorSince late 2020, Ethiopia has experienced four below-normal rainy seasons. There is a high likelihood of a fifth failed season following a forecast of poor and below-normal rainfall from October to December 2022. This triggered the worst drought conditions observed in more than four decades in large swaths of the country. In parallel, heavy rains recorded in July and August in some regions (Afar, Amhara and Gambella) resulted in floods and high population displacement and impacted the delivery of humanitarian supplies. Food insecurity, malnutrition, water access and the health conditions of the affected population keep worsening, with eroded coping capacities and increased vulnerabilities. Drought-induced displacements are staggering, compounding the already high numbers of IDPs living in drought-affected areas. More than 4 million livestock have perished, and more than 30 million livestock have emaciated/poor body conditions due to a lack of pasture and water. A cholera outbreak has been reported, affecting the most vulnerable people in Oromia and Somali Regions.
In parallel, high levels of violence in other regions in the country, especially in Oromia and Benishangul Gumuz Regions, continue to displace a high number of people, impacting lives and livelihoods. Protection risks remain a serious concern in conflict, violence and drought-affected areas, with increasing reports of sexual and gender-based violence, families being separated and children becoming orphans.
Berhale, Ethiopia
A man stands in a conflict-damaged market. Before the conflict, the town benefited from salt production, livestock sales and markets.
OCHA/Liz Loh-TaylorProjected situation in 2023 and beyond
The current humanitarian situation is not expected to stabilize in 2023, given the seasonal forecast of additional consecutive poor rainfall seasons in parts of the country. This unprecedented climatic shock will have a ripple effect on the lives and livelihoods of pastoralist and agropastoralist communities in various areas of Ethiopia, leading to potential loss of life, widespread loss of livestock, heightened food insecurity, high malnutrition rates and further erosion of already overstretched coping strategies of the most vulnerable populations.
The effects of conflict and violence will continue to exacerbate the already dire and fragile humanitarian conditions of vulnerable people, who will require immediate life-saving interventions. Increased efforts need to be scaled up to address the immediate and critical humanitarian needs while linking up with resilience and development programmes.
Somali region, Ethiopia
Sixty-year-old Hubi Ahimed Hilmi, a mother of 10, was displaced from Kebridehar wered due to drought.
FAO/Michael TeweldeResponse priorities in 2023
The overall response strategy for 2023 is underpinned by an intersectoral analysis that informs multisectoral approaches to address the following protection-focused and people-centred response priorities (with particular attention to the needs of children, youth, women, the elderly, people with disabilities and other groups with specific needs):
- Provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The numerous compounded crises have impacted the lives of millions of people, who require life-saving humanitarian assistance in safety and dignity through local and community-based interventions.
- Provision of life-sustaining assistance. This includes efforts to assist affected and at-risk populations with enhanced and sustained access to essential health services, protection, emergency shelter, education, and safe water, sanitation and hygiene services.
- Improvement of coping mechanisms of the affected and at-risk population through income-generating and resilience-building activities, as well as strengthening interlinkages with development partners to support a sustainable recovery.
The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires US$3.5 billion to respond urgently to immediate and increased humanitarian needs. This is in line with the increased target population and financial request of the 2022 Mid-Year HRP of $3.3 billion to respond to increasing needs until the end of 2022.