CARE is appealing for 5 million USD to reach 150,000 people in urgent need
19 July 2018. Since the beginning of this year, over 800,000 people have fled the violence in Ethiopia. In total, around one million people are estimated to be internally displaced in the country. Houses and major infrastructure have been severely damaged. More than 200 people have lost their lives. “This is a massive humanitarian crisis totally off the radar of the international community. People are in desperate need. The region has been suffering from hunger for years. With the current violence, massive displacements and starting rainy season the situation is deteriorating by the day,” says Fred McCray, CARE’s Acting Country Director in Ethiopia. “We urgently need funding to scale up our humanitarian response. People are without food, clean water and safe shelter.”
CARE is appealing for 5 million US Dollar to reach 150,000 people in urgent need. In a region that was already affected by drought and food insecurity prior to the escalation of the conflict, the need for food, clean water and health services is now more urgent than ever.
Every day, more people are fleeing to Gedeo and West Guji. Most of them are staying with local families, who are opening up their doors to the displaced. “People are trying their best to help, but the host communities are already absolutely overwhelmed. The living conditions are worsening for everyone,” says McCray. In Gedeo alone 183 spontaneous sites have been set up, while many people camp in crowded public buildings. The lack of clean water is a high risk for a major disease outbreak, while concerns are also rising in relation to gender-based violence. Women and girls are always the most affected in times of crisis and when living in overcrowded sites with very limited protection.
The Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian agencies are urgently seeking USD 117.7 million for an initial emergency response. CARE has been responding to drought and famine in Ethiopia since 1984, and is now urgently scaling up its response to help people in Gedeo.
Our team in Ethiopia is currently focusing on preventing the outbreak of diseases by improving the access to drinking water in the area. CARE will be providing water tanks and will distribute aid kits, including items such as soap, buckets, blankets and cooking pots to people arriving in Gedeo. In addition, aiming to protect women and children from violence, CARE is also creating Woman and Child Friendly spaces and will provide psychosocial counseling to the most vulnerable. Our teams in Ethiopia will continue to monitor the situation closely and assess the needs of those affected and especially of women and girls, as conditions are expected to deteriorate further in the coming weeks.
Learn more about CARE's work in Ethiopia.