France, Plan Int’l commit €1,000,000 to address food insecurity among Sudanese refugees

Addis Ababa, July 6, 2023 (FBC) – The Embassy of France in Ethiopia and Plan International Ethiopia today announced a €1,000,000 funding agreement aimed at tackling the escalating food and nutritional crisis faced by Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.

Official press release from the French Embassy in Addis Ababa indicates that the signing ceremony took place earlier today at the French Embassy in Addis Ababa.

The project, implemented by Plan International Ethiopia, will support 45,000 people affected by the ongoing Sudanese crisis and Ethiopian returnees who previously sought refuge in Sudan during the war in northern Ethiopia.

It is stated that the intervention will take place over a nine-month period, from June 1, 2023 to February 28, 2024, and will focus on the Metema woredas in the Amhara region and the Kumuruk and Guba woredas in the Benishangul Gumuz region.

Since the onset of the Sudan crisis in April 2023, nearly 60,000 individuals have sought refuge in Ethiopia, amplifying the urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian interventions. The Embassy’s contribution will support efforts to tackle acute malnutrition among children under five, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Mental health support, psychosocial assistance, and gender-based violence prevention are also key project components, the presser indicated.

Additionally, this initiative aims to provide immediate food security assistance, including hot meals and energy biscuits for young children and pregnant and lactating women. Where feasible, the project will also explore the implementation of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to further enhance the living conditions of these vulnerable groups.

“France, as a long standing partner of Ethiopia and Sudan is honored to support this critical endeavor. By partnering with Plan International Ethiopia, we are reinforcing our shared dedication to sustainable solutions that uplift the most vulnerable, aiming to create a secure, inclusive, and sustainable environment for all,” the press release stated.

Plan International is a prominent global development and humanitarian organization committed to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls. Operating in Ethiopia since 1995, Plan International Ethiopia has initiated impactful programs across essential areas such as Food Security, Nutrition, Health, Child Protection, WASH, and Youth Empowerment /Economic Security.