Addis Ababa, January 25, 2024 (FBC) – State Minister for Government Communication Service, Selamawit Kassa, in press conference, stated that the Government has delivered humanitarian assistance to people who were in urgent need due to manmade and natural problems in three rounds.
The assistance has been delivered to 7.3 million, 3.6 million and 6.5 million people in the first, second and third round of the operation respectively, according to the State Minister.
The humanitarian assistance targeted people affected by drought, conflicts and other natural disasters in various parts of the country.
According to the State Minister 40pct of the budget for the humanitarian operation has been covered by the government while the remaining is secured from the World Bank.
The government has disbursed a total of 15 billion birr for the delivery of the humanitarian support conducted from July to December 2023.
Selamawit elaborated that the government has identified 6.6 million people who are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance from January to April 2024.
Saying that 9.2 billion birr is needed to respond the urgent humanitarian need, Selamawit stated that the support will be mobilized from the government, regional states and international partners. The government has so far made ready 500,000 quintals of food to be distributed during the next humanitarian distribution, she added.
Furthermore, the State Minister stated that all the necessary preparations have been made for the upcoming 37th African Union Summit.
She also said Addis Ababa has finalized preparations to host the East African Pastoralists Expo 26 January to 1 February 2024.
Representatives of governments, pastoralists and other stakeholders from Djibouti, Somaliland, Kenya, South Sudan and Ugandan will participate in the Expo, according to Dr. Endrias Geta, State Minister for Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands.