East Africa & Great Lakes
Ethiopia
DRC Ethiopia began operations in 2009 to respond to the needs of populations experiencing conflict, forced displacement, and the effects of climate change and natural disasters. DRC Ethiopia currently has country-wide programmes implemented through three main area offices and two sub-offices in the Gambella, Tigray and Somali regions, as well as its country office in Addis Ababa. Due to its long-standing established presence and experience, DRC is able to respond rapidly to the humanitarian needs of displacement-affected communities through a protection lens, restoring livelihoods and supporting the attainment of durable solutions for displaced persons on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights.
Current situation
Ethiopia is the second-most populous country in Africa, with an estimated population of 115 million people. The country is experiencing some of the most difficult times in its history, with close to 30 million people estimated to need humanitarian assistance and protection. Nearly three quarters of those in need are women and children.
Conflict in northern parts of the country has recently escalated, affecting programs and operations in Tigray, and increasing insecurity in other regions such as Amhara and Afar where DRC has mobile emergency responses. Natural hazards such as floods in the west and most notably extreme drought in southern regions are also primary drivers of crises.
Ethiopia currently hosts more than 823,000 refugees and asylum seekers predominantly from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. The majority live in 24 refugee camps established across five regional states, with 70,000 also residing in the capital Addis Ababa as urban refugees.
There are also an estimated 5,580,000 persons forcibly displaced within Ethiopia due to conflict and natural disasters.
Core sectors Ethiopia
Displacement trends
Source: | DRC Foresight
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Why we are there
As one of the leading protection agencies in Ethiopia, DRC implements humanitarian programming to respond to the critical needs of refugees, displacement-affected people and vulnerable host communities.
DRC works with local authorities, government ministries and other humanitarian stakeholders throughout the implementation of its programs to strengthen local capacity for sustainable solutions.
In addition to implementing country programming and operations, DRC hosts the Ethiopia Migration Program (EMP) in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia to provide support to forced returnees through the provision of food and non-food items, transport assistance and information about access to available services and resources.
DRC also hosts the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) Ethiopia hub, which undertakes research/analysis, capacity development, evidence-based policy dialogue, and coordination to advance durable solutions processes within Ethiopia.
What we do
DRC responds to the needs of people of concern by providing multi-sector programming in affected areas tailored to local contexts.
DRC implements integrated responses that include Protection programming, multi-purpose cash Assistance (MPCA), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities, early recovery, livelihoods and resilience interventions, and distribution of emergency shelter and household items.
DRC supports access to justice and durable solutions in partnership with regional government authorities, while coordinating closely with other humanitarian actors to address the most critical needs of vulnerable people, improve the protective environment for displacement-affected populations, and pursue transition to recovery and longer-term resilience.
Working in collaboration with
Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development
International Organization for Migration
Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UNFPA
Ole Kirk’s Fond
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
UNHCR
World Food Programme
UNICEF
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Deutsche Gesellshaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
United States Agency for International Development
Contact
James
Curtis
Executive Director East Africa & Great Lakes
Sue
Clarke
Country Director