The Finnish Red Cross is donating EUR 100,000 from its Disaster Relief Fund for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia. In addition to the acts of inter-communal violence that escalated in June, the people of Ethiopia suffer from malnutrition and lack of clean water in Kochere and in the Gedeo Zone.
The violence in West Guji and the Gedeo Zone in the southern parts of Ethiopia, which escalated in June, have displaced more than 820,000 people to date.
In addition to inter-communal conflict, natural disasters have deteriorated the humanitarian situation in the country. During the last three years, Ethiopia has suffered from drought, floods, and landslides. The number of people in need of food aid is estimated at 7.8 million.
“Many people who have escaped violence have hardly anything with them and suffer from poor living conditions. They may have found accommodation in packed schools, offices, and churches, and are forced to sleep on the bare floor. There is also a shortage of water and soap,” says Kalle Löövi, Director of International Operations, Finnish Red Cross.
“The need for humanitarian aid is dire. It is feared that the number of cases of malnutrition and outbreaks of disease epidemics will increase, especially as the rainy season approaches,” Löövi continues.
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have started a humanitarian relief project, which aims to help 100,000 people in Kochere in the Gedeo Zone.
The Finnish Red Cross is helping internally displaced people in Ethiopia in cooperation with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. People who have fled from violence are helped by providing aid supplies, such as blankets, tarpaulins, mattresses, water canisters and soap.
Original source: RedCross
Published on 27 July 2018
