Attachments
1. Brief background
As a result of the humanitarian crises in Tigrai, the interim government of the region stated that a total of 4.55 million people in the region are highly affected by the conflict and in need of humanitarian/emergency assistance. The UN estimated the IDP figures at 2.2 million people, many of them are women and children (So far DTM registered around 230,000 IDPs). Out of which around 60,000 IDPs are living in Shire town in three IDPs sites. The humanitarian crises have also impacted the health facilities functionality due to security threat, looting and vandalism. Besides, the health workers are out-off their duty station due to insecurity and their salaries were not paid for three months. In our visit we learnt that heath workers have received 1-2 months salaries. Despite improvement showed in the mobile phone service and electric city, shortage of cash (Bank services are not available in the entire region except in Mekelle and some towns in the southern zone), critical shortage of food and non-food supplies, and shortage of water supply are still concerning issues.
The humanitarian partners in Tigrai have been providing a response to the needy population. However, the gap remains very wide in all the sectors. UNICEF has been providing humanitarian response in the areas of nutrition, health, WASH and protection. Health, Nutrition and WSAH supplies are dispatched to 12 Hospitals and water is supplied through water tanker to the host community of the visited areas in general, and particularly to the IDPs.
A joint field visit by Head, Regional Health Bureau (RHB) of the Interim Government and UNICEF conducted from 4-7 February 2021. A team of UNICEF Mekelle and Addis staff (CFO, Health, Nutrition, UNICEF Photographer) visited Shire town (Emba-Danso primary school, Shire secondary school and Axum University, Alganesh Health center, Suhul Hospital, Oumer health center) and Axum town (Axum St Mary General hospital and Axum university Referral hospital).