Northern Ethiopia: Our work in Tigray, Afar and Amhara
Displaced people have been relying on the generosity of host communities. This however is increasingly difficult for host communities to continue as they struggle from the economic impact of the violence. Alyona Synenko / ICRC
Increased violence and fighting in the northern part of Ethiopia, in and around the Tigray region, continues to severely impact the civilian population. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes looking for shelter and safety.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the ICRC, together with our partner the Ethiopia Red Cross Society (ERCS), has been helping people in northern Ethiopia — specifically Tigray, Amhara and Afar—to respond to their most basic needs.
So pleased an @ICRC and @EthioRedCross convoy reached #Mekelle today to restock #Ayder Hospital, which was paralyzed by a lack of drugs.
— Patrick Youssef (@PYoussefICRC) December 12, 2020
Doctors and nurses had to stop surgery, intensive care, and other services because they didn’t have medicine, electricity, or water. pic.twitter.com/e1dQg9cyaE
#Ethiopia: We have increased our presence in #Amhara and #Afar regions and continued the support in #Tigray region.
— ICRC Ethiopia (@ICRCEthiopia) September 7, 2021
Read more from our operational update https://t.co/qG8ps2QYdE
Families are displaced and separated. Livelihoods are destroyed. The health care system remains under enormous strain. Many rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.
As we increase our aid in Northern #Ethiopia, our teams managed to reach displaced communities in Digdiga, Galikoma (Afar), North Wollo (Amhara), Dembidolo (Oromia) and Sitti zone (SRS) with basic household supplies and financial assistance. pic.twitter.com/fPS96tNpBo
— Patrick Youssef (@PYoussefICRC) August 27, 2021
In Northern Ethiopia, ICRC is working to support facilities and essential services impacted by shortages in fuel, power and telecommunications, especially in the Tigray region. We are also responding to needs in Afar and Amhara, including support to families recently forced from their homes by the conflict. From January to September 2021, the ICRC and the ERCS have:
- Delivered medical supplies to 77 health facilities and provided physiotherapy and mobility devices to nearly 1,700 people
- Transported more than 127,000 patients by ambulance through 14 ERCS branches
- Reconnected family members separated by conflict through more than 28,000 phone calls, SAT phone or tablet
- Helped more than 96,000 people plant crops through seeds, fertilizer and cash and provided more than 120,000 people with household items
- Delivered water to more than 27,000 people a day and donated chemicals to water plants that service 1.7 million people
- Helped more than 15,700 people in more than 14 places of detention, including police stations, prisons and military camps
- Distributed kitchen sets, blankets and other essentials to 230,000 people—most of them displaced from their homes — and provided cash assistance to more than 29,000 people
The fighting in northern #Ethiopia has left many injured and maimed.
— ICRC Ethiopia (@ICRCEthiopia) July 8, 2021
We are supporting the affected through our physical rehabilitation program.
We are also organizing a referral system to reach people from different parts of the #Tigray region.
More pic.twitter.com/kSiASOAw6G
The ICRC and the ERCS remain committed to support all victims of conflict and violence regardless their origin, race, gender and faith across Ethiopia. The ICRC is also responding to humanitarian needs created by violence in other parts of the country such as Oromia, Benshangul-Gumuz, and Somali Regional State.