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CONTEXT
The deteriorating humanitarian situation in recent years has led to increased humanitarian needs across Ethiopia, with over 20 million people – internally displaced persons (IDPs), returning IDPs, crisis-affected communities, returning migrants, and their home communities among them – needing humanitarian assistance and protection services in 2023. More than 3.1 million IDPs have been identified in Ethiopia at the end of 2022, with displacement risks remaining high in 2023 and beyond. Conflict in the northern parts of the country, violence in many other parts, and natural hazards such as one of the worst droughts in recent decades, frequent floods, and landslides are the main drivers of displacement and needs.
Communities in southern and eastern parts of Ethiopia are suffering from a devastating drought following five consecutive failed rainy seasons.
Despite recent rainfall in parts of these areas, the humanitarian condition of vulnerable pastoralists and agro-pastoralists remains extremely dire as their livelihoods have been severely impacted. While the rains may have provided temporary solace through replenished surface water sources and slight regeneration of pasture in some areas, recovery from a drought of this magnitude is estimated to take between 5 to 8 years for those who lost between 80 to 100 per cent of their livelihood. Access to food and water for many households is expected to continue to be extremely limited in 2023 and beyond and continues to require urgent humanitarian assistance.
The prolonged drought followed by excessive seasonal rains have also brought with them off-season flood emergencies, displacing thousands across Afar, SNNP, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, and Dire Dawa, and causing additional livelihood loss notably in underserved and drought affected areas.
High displacement and damage to infrastructure and basic services have exposed the population to major protection risks.
With large influx of refugees into Ethiopia from neighbouring countries, need for safe and secure transportation of refugees to designated sites will also remain high throughout 2023. In addition, armed conflict in Sudan has forced tens of thousands of people to flee to Ethiopia from Sudan, requiring multi-sectoral assistance including health and WASH assistance, transportation, and tailored protection services. Alongside immediate humanitarian assistance, transition and recovery efforts are needed for affected communities to be able to recover. IOM is responding to the needs of crisis-affected communities across Ethiopia.