Key Messages: Ethiopia humanitarian context , 8 September 2017

Third consecutive poor/failed rains exacerbate drought conditions in Ethiopia: Southern and eastern Ethiopia continue to battle the impact of drought caused by the Indian Ocean-related weather systems in 2016, exacerbated by below average spring rains this year - the third consecutive poor/failed rains in the southern and eastern regions. The drought conditions are compounded by disease outbreaks, large scale loss of livelihood assets and displacement.

The number of people requiring food assistance has increased by 3 million: At least 8.5 million people require relief food assistance in the second half of 2017, up from 5.6 million at the beginning of the year. In addition, 3.6 million moderately malnourished children and pregnant and lactating mothers will require supplementary feeding, at least 376,000 children are expected to become severely acutely malnourished and some 10.5 million people will not have regular access to safe drinking water until the end of 2017. Separately, some 4 million Public Works clients of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) will require sustained assistance to the end of 2017. Although not formally included in the Mid-Year Review of Ethiopia’s 2017 Appeal, the financial requirements are estimated at US$300 million.

International partners scaling-up operations in support of the Government-led response: The UN and NGO partners have scaledup response and further strengthened leadership and coordination functions in support of the Government-led response. With available, albeit quickly depleting resources, operational partners are pushing forward with the integrated, adaptable and scaled-up response in response to the rapidly changing humanitarian context and priorities.

Growing needs are outpacing the level of funding: with Government and donor contributions and commitments in 2016 and 2017, the initial projected requirement for Ethiopia’s humanitarian response was well funded. But an increase in those needing assistance following the Mid-Year Review means that there will at least be an outstanding gap of US$417.6 million for the rest of the year. Additional funding is urgently needed, especially at this critical juncture where any further delay in food assistance will have a domino effect on levels of malnutrition, and associated health complications particularly amongst children and the internally displaced.

The impact of back to back droughts underscores the need to prioritize development programming: The Government and its international partners are also investing in long-term development cooperation programs to reduce vulnerability to drought, including through accelerated urban development and industrial transformation. Ethiopia’s investments in basic services, including health, education and agriculture extension services, have helped make the poorest and most food insecure more resilient but much remains to be done. Increased joint planning between humanitarian and development systems is essential. Studies have shown that every dollar spent on resilience programming saves three dollars in humanitarian assistance.