Migration Agency Needs $77.6mln to Support IDPs in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA The UN migration agency today launched an appeal for USD77.6 million to provide humanitarian assistance to more than 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, host community members and migrants in Ethiopia.
The East African nation faces some of the most complex migration issues in the world.
Social, economic, political and climatic change factors drive populations to leave their homes both from within and outside Ethiopia’s borders, claims the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The country continues to receive migrants and refugees, 88,044 between January and October last year, particularly from neighboring Eritrea, South Sudan and Somalia.
While Ethiopia’s displacement landscape shifted significantly in 2019, basic needs remain high, according to IOM.
It says relocation assistance to refugees is a vital lifesaving operation and failure to do so may result in increased humanitarian needs and protection concerns for refugee and host communities.
Living conditions for IDPs, returnees and many host communities are dire, its officials said.
“IOM Ethiopia plans to provide support following two principal objectives: saving lives while responding to the humanitarian crisis and supporting the transition and recovery of crisis-affected communities,” said Ester Ruiz de Azua, IOM Ethiopia’s Emergency and Post-Crisis Program Coordinator.
The agency also says community-based stabilization, peace-building and reconciliation efforts are needed to resolve and prevent further conflict-induced internal displacement.
“We call on the donor community to continue providing life-saving support to the people of Ethiopia,” Azua said. “This appeal aims to reach 1.2 million people in need. The international community must act in this critical moment – for Ethiopia 2020 and beyond”.
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