Ethiopia Humanitarian Bulletin Issue Issue #7 | 1 – 14 April 2019

HIGHLIGHTS

• Resource shortfalls are already affecting lifesaving operations. Of particular concern are the three most critical life-saving sectors: Food, Nutrition and Health.

• The lack of or inadequate assistance in one sector has a negative impact on other related sectors.
For example, delayed or inadequate relief food assistance impacts the nutritional status of already vulnerable communities.

• US$332.9 million required to address critical, prioritized gaps for the coming three months.

FIGURES

• Affected population 8.3 million
• MAM 4 million
• SAM 609,000
• # of people displaced due to conflict 2.4 million
• # of people displaced due to climatic shocks 0.6 m

FUNDING

US$1.314 billion Requirement for the 2019 Ethiopia Humanitarian Response Plan

Resource Shortfalls Affect Life-saving Operations

While seeking durable solutions for IDPs where and when feasible, the Government and parters continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced population based on need. However, resource (financial and human) shortfalls continue to hamper adequate delivery of assistance. Of particular concern are the three most critical life-saving sectors: Food, Nutrition and Health. The Food Cluster reports a shortfall of US$20.8 million to support 764,000 beneficiaries with cash grants, and $44.5 million for in-kind commodities to cover the costs for the first three rounds of relief food assistance in WFP-covered areas. In Government-covered areas, a shortfall of $50.7 million is reported to support 2.2 million beneficiaries with cash grants for the first three rounds, and a shortfall of $34 million for inkind food commodities for Rounds 2 and 3. Meanwhile the NGO Consortium (JEOP) has secured enough resources to cover food needs of 1.5 million beneficiaries for the year (except for pulses that will break at the end of September)

Meanwhile, the Nutrition Cluster is experiencing shortages of specialized food to treat moderately malnourished children under-5 and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Without urgent funding, these life-saving commodities will near full stock-out by May 2019.

The Health Cluster is also reporting shortfalls in emergency health drugs and kits, including full stock out vaccines for measles outbreak and mosquito nets for pregnant women. Similar funding constraints are leading to interruptions/reductions of emergency education, protection and other responses.

The lack of or inadequate assistance in one sector has a negative impact on other related sectors. For example, delayed or inadequate relief food assistance impacts the nutritional status of already vulnerable communities. A deteriorated nutrition condition in turn increases the risk for heightened morbidity and mortality, particularly amongst children under-5 and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. In another example, lack of adequate shelter assistance increases health and protection risks.

Overall, the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan of $1.314 billion is 29 per cent funded, including $149.6 million carried over from 2018, $176.7 million in Government pledge and $48.9 million in international donor funding.

Of the overall requirement for the year, $332.9 million is urgently needed to address critical, prioritized multi-sector gaps for the months of April, May and June. The urgency is even more pronounced given the procurement and transportation lead times required, especially for internationally procured humanitarian commodities. See the full sector breakdown of the prioritized funding gap on https://bit.ly/2GlRA2s