We recognise that there are increased and ongoing needs in Ethiopia as a result of the conflict. We have set up an Emergency and Recovery Fund to ensure that throughout the year we can stand by our partners, remain flexible and respond to their changing needs. It will be used for projects that are either responding to emergency situations, or are helping conflict-affected communities, aiming to build long-term resilience.
Tigray
In Tigray, hospitals have been targeted and medicines and equipment are not available. Wings of Healing have set up emergency medical clinics in internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps – currently home to over 48,000 people. They are also planning to start a water restoration project in the area.
Healing Hands of Joy are hoping to re-start their work with Safe Motherhood Ambassadors in Tigray. They have been identifying fistula survivors in IDP camps, making referrals for surgery, and providing counselling.
Amhara
In Wollo, Amhara, where there are high numbers of people who have fled the violence, Hope Enterprises have plans to start an Education Recovery Project:
• Equipping local schools with basic learning materials
• Providing food and basic household items for the children’s families.
Women being used as victims of political violence, rape as a weapon of war is widely reported across the region. AWSAD have often been the only support for these women, without hospitals or other services running.
Their safe house in Dessie is overwhelmed by the number of women and girls who are fleeing the fighting, no one is turned away and they desperately need further support. In 2022 AWSAD are hoping to set up a further safe house in Weledeya, to treat rape survivors in Amhara.
Afar
Alongside providing emergency aid, APDA are also working to:
• Deliver education: Support for school children is being mobilized in 2 districts. Very few of the government schools are functioning. APDA are continuing their strategy of mobile schools, providing primary education across 2 districts.
• Restart markets: As a direct result of this conflict, local markets have closed and the cost of food such as wheat has tripled in price. Funding small community co-operatives will enable herdsmen to send their goats to market further afield where there is more demand and higher prices.
AWSAD have established a new safe house in Semera, specifically to support displaced women who have experienced violence and now find themselves completely alone. They will provide medical help, counselling and safe shelter.
For each of our partners, recovery will mean something different. It might mean rebuilding their facilities which have been lost or damaged, re-connecting community groups or establishing new initiatives to help build long-term resilience. Providing the skills at a grass roots level to give people confidence, stability, and dignity. Adapting programmes to new challenges and changing needs. Enabling people to reach out for help once more.
Please donate today, so that we can make a lasting difference to the lives of people in Ethiopia.
