Global leaders to meet in Geneva to raise $1 billion for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia

Officials from various countries and international organizations are set to gather in Geneva on April 16, 2024, for a high-level pledging event aimed at addressing the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia. The primary goal of the event is to raise $1 billion to support the United Nations’ prioritized humanitarian plan for the East African nation.

In preparation for the pledging conference, the United Kingdom hosted a meeting on March 25, which was attended by representatives from the United States, European Union, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Luxembourg, the Ethiopian government, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the Ethiopia Humanitarian INGO Forum. This meeting facilitated a shared understanding among participants regarding the situation in Ethiopia and provided a platform for discussions on collaborative initiatives aimed at preventing the worsening of food insecurity in the nation’s most vulnerable regions.

During the meeting, the Ethiopian government outlined its progress in enhancing humanitarian data collection, conducting food security analyses, and prioritizing response efforts. Additionally, the government emphasized its ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and pursue sustainable long-term developmental solutions through collaboration with development partners.

All United Nations missions stationed in Geneva and New York, as well as non-governmental organizations, have been invited to attend the conference on April 16 with the aim of contributing to the $1 billion funding target. This upcoming pledging event represents a crucial opportunity to mobilize resources and ensure essential humanitarian assistance reaches Ethiopia’s most vulnerable populations in the coming months.

According to a situational report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on March 25, 2024, an amount of US$998 million is required to address priority humanitarian needs in Ethiopia over the next three months and to maintain the functionality of aid distribution channels thereafter.

The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC) disclosed that the ongoing drought has affected over 6.6 million citizens, with adverse effects being felt across various regions of Ethiopia. Amhara, Tigray and Oromia are identified as the most vulnerable areas, collectively representing just over 60% of the nationwide 6.6 million individuals in urgent need of emergency food assistance from January to March 2024.