HIGHLIGHTS

The Government of Ethiopia allocated some $182 million to support and rehabilitate people affected by natural and manmade disasters in 2018.

If the predicted erratic and underperforming spring rains materialize, in the current drought belt, it will be the 4 th successive year of underperforming rains in some of these areas.

Government allocates US$182 million for 2018 Humanitarian response

The Government of Ethiopia allocated some $182 million to support and rehabilitate people affected by natural and manmade disasters in 2018. This includes the $36 million that was allocated earlier to Oromia and Somali regions for IDP recovery and rehabilitation programmes. The $10 million Central Emergency Response Fund announced in January will complement the Government plan and enable humanitarian partners to provide lifesaving assistance including shelter, clean water and sanitation services and solutions for those most in need amongst the conflict-displaced and host communities.

Meanwhile, the January nutrition hotspot classification has identified 463 districts nationwide as priority areas for humanitarian response in 2018, of which 216 are Priority 1 (P1), 161 Priority 2 (P2) and 86 Priority 3 (P3). The Geographic footprint remains the same as in 2017, with few additional P1 districts identified in northern and north eastern Amhara and in Afar regions.

2018 Spring (mid-February–May) rains could underperform in current drought belt

According to the National Meteorological Agency (NMA), the 2018 spring rains in the current drought belt (south and southeastern Ethiopia) could potentially be erratic and could underperform. If this materializes, it will be the 4th successive year of underperforming rains in some of these areas. Global weather forecasting systems have also identified Ethiopia as one of the four countries at highest risk of being impacted by La Niña during this period. The humanitarian situation will likely deteriorate further if the projected La Niña affects the spring rains in the lowland pastoralist and agro-pastoralist areas, extending the dry season.

Early warning information will be availed to pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in these areas for timely and informed decision making. The Government and partners are taking preventive and preparedness measures. To this end, frontloading of pipelines and of funding to partners on the ground is urgently required.