OCHA Reaffirms Commitment to Support Ethiopia’s Effort to Address Humanitarian Needs

Addis Ababa February 9/2024 (ENA)The State Minister of Finance, Semereta Sewasew, discussed with the Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Country Office for Ethiopia, Paul Handley.

The discussion focused on the humanitarian situation and development priorities in Ethiopia as well as the way forward in mobilizing resources for conflict and climate change-affected populations in the country.  

The state minister expressing her appreciation for the enormous contribution of OCHA in terms of humanitarian support for conflict-affected communities reiterated that the current global climatic events have also been posing multiple negative effects in these regions and other parts of the country leading to severe water shortages, dried pastures, and reduced harvest.  

For his part, Paul Handley reaffirmed the commitments of OCHA to support the government of Ethiopia in its effort to mobilize additional resources to address the current humanitarian needs for conflict and climate change-affected communities in the country. 

He also underlined the need to strengthen the food aid and cash transfer mechanisms to channel resources to the needy population efficiently and effectively.     

As the way forward, it was highlighted the need to bring together all development and humanitarian actors working in the country to avoid fragmentations and duplication of efforts to effectively support the conflict and climate change-affected communities in addressing their current needs in terms of food aid, healthcare services, water and sanitation, education, jobs creation and ultimately ensure sustainable livelihood and address the needs of internally displaced people. 

It was also underlined that crisis response activities should be aligned with sustainable development endeavors to assist communities in strengthening their capacities and resilience building, according to Finance Ministry.