Ethiopia: Health facilities lack supplies amid ongoing violence. Civilians struggle to rebuild livelihoods

Efforts to rebuild livelihoods have been hampered by unexploded ordnance, difficult economic recovery, and severe drought. At the same time, conflicts in Amhara and Oromia continue disrupting lives.

“People affected by conflict face enormous challenges to meet their needs.” said Nicolas Von Arx, the head of the ICRC delegation in Addis Ababa. “We are particularly concerned about the protection of the lives, property and livelihoods of civilians. We therefore maintain a regular dialogue with military, security forces and armed groups to promote respect for international humanitarian law, which should mitigate the effects of the fighting on civilians.” he added.

In 2023, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) helped treat weapon-wounded patients in Ethiopian health facilities it supports. Most of the patients were wounded during armed clashes while others got injured by unexploded ordnance in the northern regions. Those who lost limbs received physiotherapy and mobility devices. In Amhara and Oromia health facilities struggle to assist the wounded and the sick, after supply chains were disrupted by insecurity and movement restrictions.

At the same time, Tigray, Amhara, Afar and Somali Regional State are facing serious food shortages. Scarcity of food and lack of clean water affect the most vulnerable, especially pregnant women and young children.

Since April last year, the ICRC has been providing nutrition services in 29 health posts in remote areas of the Tigray region to treat children under five, as well as pregnant and lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition. It continues working with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) to help people affected by conflict and violence throughout the country. This support includes improving access to health services and clean water, and helping people rebuild their livelihoods. The ICRC supported 33 ERCS branches with operational costs of their ambulance services last year.

In 2023, the ICRC, working together with the ERCS, has assisted nearly 146,000 people who received cash assistance to meet their basic needs, 130,000 received household items, and 135,000 received food, while over two million livestock were vaccinated to secure the livelihoods of people in affected areas.

For more information, please contact:

Robin Waudo, ICRC Addis Abeba, tel. +251 944 101 700,
email: rwaudo@icrc.org
or visit our website: www.icrc.org

To preview and download the latest ICRC video footage in broadcast quality, go to

www.icrcvideonewsroom.org
To find out what the ICRC is doing to put an end to attacks on health workers and patients, go to
www.healthcareindanger.org
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Source : Icrc

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