EU continues to address humanitarian needs in Ethiopia by allocating over €53 million

The EU has announced new funding of €53.7 million in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia, including those affected by the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

The conflict in the Tigray region has exacerbated an already difficult situation in Ethiopia. Humanitarian needs – even basic survival needs like food security, health, and shelter – are growing. What is more, violence is increasing in several parts of the country. On top of that, 5 months into the conflict, the situation in Tigray remains severe despite slight improvements, keeping millions of people in need of assistance, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The key priority, therefore, remains to ensure humanitarian access to all those in need in Tigray. At the same time, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel must be ensured, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

“Since the beginning of the conflict in Tigray, the EU, together with its Member States, has been one of the largest humanitarian donors to the crisis and has been consistently advocating for the respect of IHL, including the obligation to protect civilians. I reiterate this call once more, condemning all crimes against civilians, including rape, and calling the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice,” said Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, who will arrive in Ethiopia on April, 20 and will meet Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen.

The funding announced will be dedicated to addressing the acute needs of those affected by conflict and climate shocks, including populations in displacement and the communities hosting the displaced. This comes on top of additional funding for the Tigray crisis last year, which brought the total EU funding for humanitarian partners in Ethiopia to over €63 million in 2020.