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
Foreword by the Humanitarian Coordinator
Faced with multiple and competing crises in 2023, generous donor support was critical in enabling the humanitarian community in Ethiopia to support national response efforts in successfully addressing widespread needs, despite the complexities of the operating environment.
At the start of 2024 - and in addition to dealing with the continuing impacts of past droughts, floods and conflict - humanitarian partners are gearing up to mount a massive new response to El Niño-driven drought across affected areas, that is threatening to further deepen food insecurity and double malnutrition rates. The success of any humanitarian operation is not only to respond, but to respond as and when needed. Early action is required to ensure response is quickly running at-scale to prevent deterioration and widespread suffering.
Conflict and insecurity in several parts of the country has given rise to new and growing protection concerns, including displacement and destruction of social infrastructure. Despite the many challenges and dangers, humanitarian partners will continue to use all efforts to reach affected groups with lifesaving and protection assistance, including in hard-to-reach areas. I further highlight the lessons that have been learned from the terrible incidents of aid diversion that were encountered in the past year, leading to the introduction of new and robust targeting and monitoring systems, to ensure that our assistance reaches just those who need it most.
This Humanitarian Response Plan is based on an in-depth assessment and analysis of needs, with response actions carefully prioritized. Globally, the HRP for Ethiopia is the only one prepared in partnership with a host Government, and against which national resources are also allocated (notably for relief food assistance), which I commend as a clear demonstration of national commitment to ensure the most needy are assisted in partnership with international actors.
I take this opportunity to thank donors for their generosity in 2023 and continuing commitment to address the needs of crisis-affected Ethiopians. Over past years our combined efforts in delivering a well-coordinated and well-funded response – frequently reinforcing or working through national development systems - has been celebrated as an exemplary model. Given the many new contextual challenges, Ethiopia needs our continued support more than ever.
The humanitarian requirements of US$3.3 billion for 2024 are high, and we commit to ensure donors are equipped with periodic ‘prioritization statements’ of critical funding gaps to complement this plan. I also note that this is not a comprehensive plan for recovery and durable solutions - on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team I also urge development partners to expand or adapt their support to the realities of the context, in coordination with humanitarians.
Dr Ramiz Alakbarov
Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia