By Blessing Chinagorom
The United Nations has said that twenty announcements of financial support were made totalling almost [$610] million at the High-Level Pledging Event for Humanitarian Situation in Ethiopia which was just wrapped up in Geneva on Tuesday.
The event was organized with the Governments of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations, and was well attended by donors, the diplomatic community and humanitarian partners.
UN Spokesperson made this known in a Press Briefing on Tuesday stated that the United Nations along with its humanitarian partners, are backing the nationally led response to scale up life-saving assistance to 15.5 million men, women and children, and food aid to 10.4 million people in Ethiopia with the entire plan calls for $3.24 billion.
“To fund the immediate response and ensure a pipeline of aid for the next five months, $1 billion is needed. The one-day conference will contribute towards that target”.
He added, “Our Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, who thanked the donors, said that this is just the beginning and that we hope for continued and increased support throughout the year”.
From this announced fund, the United States, in a statement through State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, Migration (PRM) and the USAID, is providing $154 million in additional assistance for the humanitarian response in Ethiopia.
While added that this includes more than $19 million from PRM for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian partners to support refugees and other displaced and vulnerable populations throughout Ethiopia.
The statement stated that the additional funding brings the United States’ total humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia to nearly $243 million since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2024.
“PRM contributions to UNHCR and other partners will support provision of essential services such as protection; shelter; water, sanitation and hygiene; and mental health support for refugees living in Ethiopia as well as internally displaced Ethiopians.
“Ethiopia now hosts nearly 1 million refugees, the third-largest refugee population in Africa. Since 2023, Ethiopia has welcomed more than 130,000 new refugees and asylum-seekers fleeing conflicts in Sudan and Somalia”, the statement said.
It was revealed that the United States remains the largest humanitarian donor in Ethiopia and will continue to support refugees sheltering in the country.
“We urge other donors to join us in supporting UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations working to assist the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and other crises throughout the region”, the statement concluded.