Japan announces $25mln humanitarian assistance package to conflict, drought affected regions in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, December 6, 2022 (FBC) – The Government of Japan announced that it will provide a new humanitarian assistance package worth about USD 25 million (1.3 billion Birr) to Ethiopia through its partnerships with various international organizations.

The assistance will be made as a follow-up to the commitments made at TICAD 8 in Tunis in August, and in response to the urgent and vast humanitarian needs in Ethiopia.

The new Japanese humanitarian assistance package to Ethiopia is expected to be implemented in Japanese Fiscal Year 2022/2023.

According to the statement sent to Fana Broadcasting Corporate by the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia, the assistance will be implemented on five key focus areas.

The statement indicated that of the allotted package nearly 5.5 million USD will be allocated for Food Security and Livelihood purposes.

Japan will provide nearly USD 4 million to WFP to give lifesaving nutritional treatment to 22,200 children aged 6-59 months and 25,800 pregnant and lactating women in Afar, Amhara and Tigray Regions. 1.5 million USD will be provided to FAO to improve food, nutrition and income security in Amhara and Afar by supporting 6,750 households with diversified crop seeds, vaccinating more than 1.5 million livestock, supporting women groups and rehabilitating vet clinics.

The second key focus area that the Japanese government’s humanitarian assistance allocated is for Protection and emergency Assistance activities.

In order to provide protection and basic emergency assistance to more than 2 million IDPs, refugees, returnees and host communities affected by conflict and natural disasters in almost all regions of the country, Japan will provide more than 15 million USD to IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC and CBPF. This assistance will be made through provision of emergency shelters, NFIs, health and medical services, water and sanitation facilities and education services.

According to the breakdown of the package, the third focus area of the assistance is Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

To increase access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and GBV information and services for vulnerable women, girls and youth in conflict affected areas of Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Afar and Somali Regions, Japan will provide about 1.5 million USD to UNFPA and IPPF. This assistance aims to reach more than 200,000 beneficiaries with SRH/GBV information and services while strengthening local health systems.

Whereas, the fourth focus area, according to the statement, is Mine Action.

In order to minimize the risk of explosive ordnances and to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid in the northern regions, Japan will provide 2 million USD to UNMAS. The project will assess and reduce explosive ordnance contamination, and deliver explosive ordnance risk education to conflict-affected people to mitigate explosive risks, the Embassy’s statement mentioned.

The fifth key focus area of the humanitarian assistance is Human Rights.

Japan will provide 300,000 USD to OHCHR to promote and protect human rights especially in conflict affected areas through monitoring, reporting and advocating the human rights situation, and supporting various stakeholders to strengthen human rights protection systems.