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Ethiopia Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 24 July 2017

Countries
Ethiopia
+ 2 more
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

Key Issues

  • The UN Humanitarian Coordinator allocated US$44.7 million through the OCHA managed Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF), to address the most life-saving and time critical needs. All eligible partners are encouraged to consult respective clusters and submit their project proposal online on the Grant Management System not later than 8 August 2017.

  • An estimated US$30 million required to assist the most vulnerable Ethiopian returnees from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • Ethiopia continues to receive Somali and South Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict and food insecurity.

Following poor performing spring rains, the number of people receiving humanitarian assistance has reached 7.8 million in the first quarter of the year and is expected to heighten further in the second half of the year. The joint Government and humanitarian partners’ seasonal belg assessment reports have been consolidated. The Mid-Year-Review of the 2017 Humanitarian Requirements Document that will inform the actual humanitarian needs is expected to be launched in late July. Increased funding is needed urgently, in particular to address immediate requirements for food and nutrition as well as clean drinking water, much of which is being delivered long distances by truck as regular wells have dried up.

The Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) allocates US$44.7 million for drought response

In coherence with the mid-year needs assessment that revealed significant spikes in food and nutritional needs in drought-affected areas and the prioritization exercise in July, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator allocated US$44.7 million through the OCHA managed Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF), to address prioritized, most life-saving and time-critical needs across sectors. From the total allocation, $11.7 million is for the procurement and distribution of nutrition supplies to treat moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), for community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) and to enhance technical capacity of Government monitors and health staff in prioritized areas of Oromia, Somali and SNNP regions; $10 million will support water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) interventions in IDP sites in Somali region as well as the provision of water treatment chemicals and targeted water trucking to health and school facilities and large IDP sites without alternative water sources. The health sector will receive $8 million for acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and other disease and acute malnutrition and for the expansion of mobile health and nutrition teams in Somali region. Common services and logistical support to government and partners will receive ($5 million). Agriculture ($4 million), emergency shelter and non-food items ($3 million), protection ($2 million) and education ($1 million) will also benefit from this allocation. All eligible partners are encouraged to consult respective clusters and following agreement submit their project proposal online on the Grant Management System not later than 8 August 2017.

An estimated US$30 million required to assist Ethiopian returnees from KSA

An estimated US$30 million is required for post-arrival and reintegration assistance of the most vulnerable Ethiopian returnees from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Urgent needs include water and energy biscuits, wet feeds, mobile latrines, diapers, cloths, dignity kits and transportation support to final destinations for the most vulnerable, unaccompanied minors, single mothers and abused migrants.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 130,000 undocumented Ethiopians had received exit visa from Saudi Arabia as at 18 July 2017, of whom more than 60,000 have returned. The first Transit Center identified by the Government of Ethiopia has received more than 1,800 vulnerable cases since it became operational, while an additional 1,750 most vulnerable cases have so far been assisted at the IOM Transit Centre. The 30-day extended amnesty period expired on 24 July 2017.

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sector Associations (ECCSA) stated that the business community is working on the rehabilitation of Ethiopian returnees and that this effort should be sustained. The returnees will be provided with skills training and consultancy to engage in income generating activities.

Ethiopia continues to receive Somali and South Sudanese refugees

UNHCR indicated that 325 Somali refugees arrived in Melkadida between 1 and 15 July 2017, increasing the total number of new Somali arrivals since January 2017 to 6,256 people. All the new arrivals were registered as refugees and relocated to five refugee camps. On average, 32 persons arrived daily between 1 January and 15 July 2017 of which 88 per cent are women and children. As at 15 July, the total number of Somali refugees in Ethiopia has reached 251,393 people.

Similarly, conflict and food insecurity continue to force South Sudanese to seek refuge in Ethiopia. Between 1 January and 15 July 2017, 36,691 South Sudanese refugees arrived in western Ethiopia, at an average daily arrival rate of 160 persons. At least 65 per cent of the total registered new arrivals since September 2016 are children, including 19,824 unaccompanied and separated children. While 85 per cent of the new arrivals originated from Upper Nile State, 14 per cent came from Jonglei State. The remaining one per cent reportedly fled from Unity State. At present, some 2,943 South Sudanese refugees are awaiting relocation to the new camp at Gure Shombola, Assosa. As at 15 July, the total number of South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia has reached 379,376.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.