The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has issued an urgent plea for concerted humanitarian assistance to address an impending crisis in Ethiopia caused by drought.
In its latest report on the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia released on Thursday, UNOCHA highlighted the devastating impact of the El Nino-induced drought, which is pushing millions of people into suffering and desperation. The organization emphasized the critical need for immediate action to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
According to UNOCHA, recent assessments and joint prioritization efforts have identified a target of providing food assistance to 10.4 million people annually in Ethiopia. The drought, exacerbated by poor harvests and below-average summer rains from June to August 2023, has primarily affected the highlands of Ethiopia.
The report describes how the drought has ravaged farms, depleted rivers and water sources, and dried up pastures, leading to severe food, water, and fodder shortages for millions of people and livestock.
UNOCHA underscored that the drought has compounded the already dire humanitarian conditions faced by millions in northern Ethiopia, who are still recovering from the impact of the two-year conflict from 2020 to 2022.
Warning of further deterioration in the coming months, UNOCHA stressed the need for a comprehensive multi-sector response between January and March. Without urgent intervention, the affected populations risk worsening water shortages, declining livestock health, and increased malnutrition, pushing them further into poverty.
