Ethiopia Priority Humanitarian Response and Critical Funding Gaps (June 2024) - Ethiopia (2024)

Overview

Since the publication of the first Priority Humanitarian Response and Critical Funding Gaps document in March 2024, identifying critical funding gaps of US$998 million, the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia has remained dire. Persistent food insecurity and malnutrition has been exacerbated by the El Niño-induced drought and flooding. The worsening security situation in Amhara and Oromia regions, among others, is also impeding access to basic services and lifesaving assistance. The food security situation is expected to deteriorate further, with more than 10 million people anticipated to be critically food insecure during the main lean season (July-September). The overall security environment, operational hurdles and fuel shortages are expected to continue to severely hamper humanitarian efforts.

Additionally, Ethiopia is facing several health emergencies, including cholera, measles, and malaria outbreaks. The cholera outbreak, that started in August 2022, is the longest on record. There has been a surge in cholera cases in Afar and Oromia regions over the last three months, marking the third wave of outbreaks. The measles outbreak is also worsening due to low immunization coverage and a lack of awareness among caregivers about the importance of vaccination; this is further exacerbated by displacement and access constraints. Malaria cases have reached their highest level in seven years, with mosquito breeding negatively impacted by drought and floods.

The humanitarian situation is further affected by the lack of recovery interventions in areas affected by drought and conflicts over the past few years. Urgent measures are required to build the resilience of affected populations and to mitigate the impacts of future crises.

Despite limited resources, the Government of Ethiopia, the UN and its partners are striving to address the complex and unpredictable humanitarian situation, aiming to reach 15.5 million people in 2024. During the High-Level Pledging Event in April 2024, donors pledged more than US$600 million to the Ethiopia response, demonstrating a collective commitment to addressing critical needs. However, this amount is insufficient to meet the extensive humanitarian needs, particularly considering anticipated risks that may further exacerbate the crisis. These risks include increased cholera cases, new displacements due to hostilities in Oromia and Amhara regions, possible flooding during the Kiremt rainy season (June-August), as well as the potential increase in the numbers of internally displaced people returning home or those who are relocated who would require ongoing assistance until full recovery.

At end May, the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) was 13 per cent funded (US$287 million). This does not include some carry-over resources from 2023 which clusters started the year with, particularly food operators due to the pause. More than 6.7 million people were reached between January and April 2024 with either monthly distributions of food assistance, or at least one type of non-food humanitarian assistance.

Under the auspices of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) conducted a second critical funding gaps analysis and prioritization exercise to address immediate needs and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in areas most affected by ongoing crises.

Based on these prioritization criteria, clusters estimated the number of people to be targeted and the funding gap for three months (June, July, August), excluding already received or committed funding. Clusters also reflected funding gaps for supply pipelines until the end of the year to allow for procurement and supplies movements.

The ICCG focused on strengthening the Integrated Response Approach, was established in 2022 with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the humanitarian response to malnutrition in drought-affected areas. This collaboration enhances the coordination among the Agriculture, WASH, Health, and Nutrition clusters with each cluster delineating critical activities, priority joint intervention areas, target outcomes, and funding gaps for the integrated response.

The health and WASH clusters identified critical activities to support the implementation of the National Cholera Elimination Plan (NCP) for the integrated response to the cholera outbreak. They highlighted priority interventions focusing on the priority hotspots woredas identified by the Ministry of Health based on the epidemiological data.

Forecasting models indicate a high probability of La Niña developing during the period from October to December 2024, a scenario which is usually associated with drier-than-normal conditions in the Southern and Southeastern parts of the country. To mitigate the expected effects, clusters have developed Preparedness and/or Anticipatory Actions to address the drought induced by La Niña in Southern and Southeastern Ethiopia.

The ICCG has also considered potential new displacement of 500,000 individuals across various regions of the country due to man-made and natural disasters and estimated the costs needed for responding based on cluster HRP response packages.

By funding these priorities donors can provide life-saving support to a swift response to critical needs, which include malnutrition prevention, healthcare services, WASH service provision, food assistance, education, and protection.

During the prioritization process, clusters engaged various stakeholders, including NGOs, regional cluster coordinators, Technical Working Group leads, sub-national clusters, and government counterparts. Some clusters also consulted with local partners, requested feedback during cluster meetings and aligned their prioritization with existing priorities outlined in the HRP.