The United Nations, in partnership with the governments of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, raised over $600 million in funding pledges to support humanitarian aid efforts in Ethiopia. The project comes as the East African country deals with a multi-dimensional problem that includes violence, droughts, and floods.
At a UN-hosted pledging event in Geneva, donors raised the money with the overarching goal of delivering life-saving assistance to 15.5 million people and providing food to 10.4 million.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ethiopia’s emergency has altered as a result of droughts, floods, and persistent conflict.
“The emergency has been building up through cycles of droughts, floods, and conflict.
“El Nino (weather pattern) has exacerbated a drought in the northern highlands, and millions of people are coping with less water, drier pastures, and smaller harvests,” the office said.
In a statement, the US State Department Office offered the US’s help to the Ethiopian initiative.
“The United States is providing nearly $154 million in humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia to address urgent needs resulting from conflict, insecurity, and climate shocks,” the U.S. State Department said.
OCHA reported that conflicts and climate shocks in the country have left over 21 million people in Ethiopia in need of humanitarian aid this year, with 10.8 million people facing food insecurity.
They added that about 21 countries have pledged $628.9 million in aid to Ethiopia. The United States donated the most money ($253 million), followed by the United Kingdom ($124.58 million) and the European Union ($46.6 million).
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