Vital UK aid announced today (January 20) will reach the most
vulnerable people across regions of rising insecurity in
Ethiopia. More than 600,000 people in Ethiopia will benefit from
improved access to critical food supplies or nutrition products.
The Minister for Development, , announced the new funding
package, including food supplies and other nutrition, in response
to the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis, with violence and
insecurity still on the rise.
Nearly 30 million people are now in need of emergency aid in
Ethiopia, more than any other country in the world. In northern
and western regions an estimated 22 million people are
experiencing devastating food insecurity due to drought, conflict
and economic pressures.
In Tigray, humanitarian access has improved since the signing of
a peace agreement in November. However, huge numbers of people
still have limited access to essential supplies and basic
services including food, fuel and healthcare.
Violence and insecurity continue to rise elsewhere in Ethiopia,
including in the Oromia region. With the security situation
deteriorating, significant numbers of civilians have been
displaced from their homes, with many beyond the reach of aid
agencies, lacking access to essential services such as
electricity, a mobile network, health facilities and banks.
UK funding to the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) will
address this humanitarian crisis by delivering aid to those most
in need across Ethiopia including Oromia, Tigray, Amhara and Afar
regions.
Minister for Development, RT Hon MP said:
“With nearly 30 million people across Ethiopia facing severe
hardships, this support from the UK comes at a critical moment.
“Our life-saving aid will reach hundreds of thousands of people–
over half of which are women and children who are bearing the
brunt of the country’s worsening crisis.
“To alleviate suffering and save lives, I urge the international
community not to lose focus on the deteriorating humanitarian
crisis in Ethiopia.”
The total UK funding announced today is £16.6 million supporting
more than 600,000 people. A £11.6 million contribution to
the PSNP will reach around 250,000 people living in extreme
poverty with food and livelihood security.
Money will be pooled with multi-donor funding alongside
international partners, and will go to regions across Ethiopia
including Oromia, Amhara, Afar and Harar city
zones. During the last 17 years, the UK has provided £650m
to the programme.
Through the World Food programme, a further £5 million of UK
funding announced today, will also help treat almost 23,000
pregnant and lactating women suffering from moderate acute
malnutrition, and provide better infrastructure for feeding
programmes for 42,000 school pupils in 75 schools.
This critical support to malnourished mothers and children will
reach the most vulnerable in desperate need, including those in
conflict-affected areas of Northern and Western Ethiopia. World
Food Programme funding will also be invested in boosting local
production of nutrition products, benefitting a further 330,000
children per month.
British Ambassador Darren Welch said:
“This latest contribution from the UK is part of a longstanding
relationship with the Government of Ethiopia to help address the
country’s humanitarian challenges.
“UK support to the Productive Safety Net Programme and the World
Food Programme will quickly reach those most in need of aid with
assistance targeting the most vulnerable, including women and
children who are too often the worst affected by climate shocks
and conflict.”
Darren Welch is
newly appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to
the African Union.
This funding comes just a month after the UK Foreign Secretary
visited Ethiopia following
the recent peace agreement and the opening of humanitarian
routes. The funding means the UK will meet its commitment to
spend £156 million in humanitarian aid to East Africa in the
financial year 2022/2023.
[ENDS]
Notes to editors
- This total humanitarian funding for
Ethiopia for this financial year is £49.2 million
- The £16.6 million of UK funding is
going towards:
o £11.6 million to the Productive Safety Net
Programme
o £5 million to the World Food Programme
- Nutrition needs in Ethiopia are
very significant with admissions of children with severe acute
malnutrition the highest on record since 2018.
- More than 1.2 million children with
severe acute malnutrition now need life-saving support with a
further 3.5 million children and around 1 million pregnant and
lactating women requiring support for moderate acute
malnutrition.
