Friday December 22, 2023
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has said Ethiopia continued to face critical humanitarian needs primarily stemming from the intertwined impacts of intercommunal violence, disease outbreaks, conflicts, and the effects of climate change.
"In recent weeks, extreme weather events such as drought and floods have continued to cause extensive damage, including induced displacement, devastation of crops and livelihoods, leading to increased health and protection risks," the UNFPA said in its latest situation update issued Wednesday.
It said humanitarian assistance remains critical but still insufficient to address the needs of communities still grappling with the effects of five consecutive seasons of severe drought.
According to the UNFPA, an estimated 5 million people are reportedly affected by drought-like conditions in Amhara and Tigray regions.
The UNFPA said between October and November, the impact of heavy rainfall and river overflows, resulting in flooding and mudslides, affected about 1.5 million individuals, primarily in the regions of Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Ethiopia, and Gambela regions.
The UNFPA, citing recent reports, said crop failure has left an estimated 2.8 million people food insecure in Amhara amid an upsurge of disease outbreaks, particularly malaria and measles, and restricted mobility due to ongoing hostilities in the region.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 20 million people, including 4.5 million internally displaced persons, need humanitarian assistance.
The UNFPA also said the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is further compounded by the influx of refugees from the neighboring country of Sudan.