Foreign Secretary sees UK aid making real difference in Ethiopia

·       Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has seen trucks set off today to deliver UK aid to parts of Ethiopia affected by drought and conflict, following peace talks and the reopening of humanitarian routes.

·       He has witnessed first-hand how UK aid this year has been supporting over 1 million Ethiopians facing drastic impacts of a perilous drought and conflict.

·       UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is holding meetings with the Ethiopian Government and promises UK support to the peace deal which paves the way for a stronger future partnership.

UK funded trucks carrying aid have been reaching Tigray, following a vital peace agreement made possible by effective international diplomacy.

After seeing trucks set off for Northern Ethiopia today, the Foreign Secretary will tell the Ethiopian government that this is a symbolic moment which paves the way for a stronger future partnership, delivering lasting peace and safety, with an international community focused on saving Ethiopian lives. 

The UK has previously led calls for a restoration of full aid access to Tigray, with millions cut off during the devastating two-year conflict.

The Foreign Secretary will see UK aid making a difference on the ground. Travelling to a region affected by both the conflict and drought, he will see vulnerable mothers and children treated for conditions including malnutrition and malaria at a mobile health clinic run by UK-funded partner UNICEF.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90million of UK aid.

And now the UK is preparing to provide further support for Ethiopia’s peace process and longer term reforms to promote peace, justice and economic reform. 

With almost 30 million in need of emergency aid in Ethiopia, collaborative action from the international community is paramount and so the Foreign Secretary is using his visit to discuss stepping up support across the international community, with meetings held with the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank and IMF.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

“The peace agreement signed in Ethiopia last month is bringing to an end two years of a conflict which caused immense suffering for the people of Ethiopia.

“Success here is a vital step to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs, but also longer-term aims for prosperity and peace. Ethiopia can rely on the UK’s full support in its path to recovery and the international community must also get behind these efforts.”

During his trip, the Foreign Secretary saw a sample of the huge impact UK aid has delivered in Ethiopia over the last 12 months.

Over 200,000 malnourished women and children have been provided with nutritious food, a similar number have received clean water, child protection services have reached 40,000 children affected by the conflict and provided emergency health supplies for 1 million people. 

The Foreign Secretary recognises that there is more to be done. That’s why he’s rallying the international community, ensuring support for the peace deal and more humanitarian aid to deliver health, water, hygiene and nutrition for the 28.6 million people in need of assistance.

And in meetings with senior members of the Ethiopian Government he will highlight UK assistance for survivors of sexual violence, strengthening of human rights and improved coordination of humanitarian efforts including better management of services such as water and education across the country which will save lives.

The Foreign Secretary is reiterating that the potential of the UK-Ethiopian partnership goes far beyond humanitarian support. Economic reforms can bring greater prosperity to both our countries, as is seen through the recent launch of Safaricom – a consortium that includes BII and Vodafone - in Ethiopia.

This evening the Foreign Secretary will host a reception for inspiring young Ethiopian leaders.

The visit coincides with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day (today, 8 December), from which funds raised will provide life-saving nutrition and health services for over 200,000 women and children facing chronic food shortages in Kenya.

The UK government announced last week that it is match funding up to £2million of public donations toSave the Children’s UK Aid Match appeal, with funds raised providing life-saving nutrition and health services for 200,000 women and children in Kenya’s Mandera and Turkana counties.

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Notes to editors:

·       Pictures from the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Semera are shared above and should be accredited to Simon Dawson, Number 10. Further pictures are available on Flickr following the visit. Footage will be distributed by UNICEF.

·       The Foreign Secretary’s visit follows the announcement of a peace agreement between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), mediated by the African Union.

·       At the business reception, the Foreign Secretary will meet with alumni of the Chevening Scholarship who have studied in the UK and start-up founders who have benefited from the UK-funded “Warka” incubation programme.

·       The Foreign Secretary will also meet with young Ethiopian entrepreneurs who have benefitted from training provided by the British Council, which this month celebrates its 80^th year in Ethiopia.

·       The impacts of climate emergencies in Ethiopia have been compounded by the conflict in the north, creating the largest humanitarian crises in the world.

·       Nearly 30 million people are in need of emergency aid in Ethiopia.