Ethiopia experiences a worsening humanitarian situation

16 July 2018

More than 800,000 internally displaced people face extreme weather in Ethiopia. They are now living in an unsafe environment without adequate shelter, resulting in a worsening humanitarian situation further deteriorated by cold and wet weather brought on by the rainy season.

Clashes broke out last month between communities along the border of two Ethiopian regions. The clashes forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

According to data collected by IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), before the latest movement caused by extreme weather, 1,776,685 people have already been internally displaced throughout Ethiopia because of drought and flooding.

The Government of Ethiopia has led the response since the crisis began and provided crucial humanitarian services across different displacement sites in West Guji Zone (Oromia) and Gedeo Zone (SNNPR).

The accommodation conditions for refugees is poor. Some are able to live with relatives or in rented accommodation but many are forced to stay in crowded informal settlements that are severely impacted by cold weather and heavy rain.

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Image credit: UNHCR