Ethiopia’s Emergency Medical Team Extends Disaster Response Support Beyond Borders

Addis Ababa, November 4, 2026 (ENA)—Ethiopia’s National Emergency Medical Team is extending its support to other countries during disasters and disease outbreaks, reflecting the nation’s growing emergency response capacity, said Dr. Melkamu Abte, Deputy Director-General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI).

The team has actively participated in international disaster response operations, most notably the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye.

Speaking to ENA during the 7th World Health Organization (WHO) Global Meeting of Emergency Medical Teams currently underway in Addis Ababa, Dr. Melkamu noted that the team has received international certification after meeting rigorous WHO standards.

Dr. Melkamu highlighted that the team has demonstrated its capacity through reliable, timely responses to emergencies and outbreaks in recent years, both within Ethiopia and abroad.

He attributed this success to significant improvements in operational systems, human resources, and logistics, noting that the unit has evolved from a small committee into a robust, organized institution.

Furthermore, Dr. Melkamu stated that Ethiopia has strengthened its epidemic preparedness and surveillance systems, particularly at border crossings and at Bole International Airport.

He emphasized that round-the-clock monitoring is now in place to detect potential health threats, ensuring that the country can identify and respond to outbreaks early using its own operational capacity.