Ethopia:
Drought and Conflict
Cash assistance, ambulance services, and water supply save lives
In Ethiopia, several humanitarian crises jeopardise the lives of millions of people. An armed conflict raged in Tigray, in the northern part of the country, from 2020 to 2022. The conflict spread to neighbouring regions Afar and Amhara. In Tigray alone, more then 5.4 million people were affected.
Overall, around 1.8 million people had to flee the conflict in the three affected regions, and 12.2 million people were dependant on humanitarian aid. The Austrian Red Cross, together with the Ethiopian Red Cross, supported Amhara region and helped 56,377 persons. Together with all its partners, the Ethiopian Red Cross reached more than 750,000 affected communities.
After peace negotiations in November 2022, armed clashes stopped and left behind destroyed infrastructure and a massive need for food, water, medical care, and psycho-social support. According to the UN, 9.4 million people still urgently need relief items. "Even if the conflict is over now: the humanitarian situation people in Ethiopia face is disastrous. Climate-related crises and conflicts will only increase over the next years, and a lot of the damage will be irreversible. Any additional shock in the affected regions has catastrophic, fatal effects. We therefore have the humanitarian mandate to help people who fight for their daily survival," says Martina Schloffer, Deputy Head of Operations and International Cooperation at the Austrian Red Cross.
A strong partnership
The Austrian Red Cross has been an active partner of the Ethiopian Red Cross for many years, working to improve the living conditions of people who have been affected by conflict or climate-related crises for many years – through cash and voucher assistance, agricultural support, or by supplying water and health services. Since 2019, the Ethiopian Red Cross ambulance services are being developed further with advice from Austrian Red Cross experts. The conflict in Tigray showed the importance of this: Many wounded people had to be transported to the nearest hospital, often three hours away. More than half of the ambulance vehicles in the affected region were destroyed in the armed conflict and have to be replaced.
Competition over natural resources
In Ethiopia, agriculture and the use of natural resources constitute more than 85 percent of communities‘ livelihoods. Because of the climate crisis and increasing competition over scarce resources, existing tensions escalate to violence.
In the southern part of the country, which is affected by drought and hunger due to the climate crisis, there are already local clashes and rivalries over the use of pastures.
Abraham Gossaye, Head of Delegation of the Austrian Red Cross office in Ethiopia, warns: "Climate-related crises and conflicts will increase over the coming years and can cost the lives of millions. Therefore, strengthening our sister Red Cross society is our highest priority. This allows the restoration of people’s livelihoods and gives them a perspective for the future."