UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Office of Press Relations
For Immediate Release
April 16, 2024
Today, representing the United States, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman, pledged nearly $154 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the humanitarian response in Ethiopia to address urgent needs resulting from conflict, insecurity, and climate shocks. This assistance, announced during a pledging conference for Ethiopia held in Geneva, Switzerland includes more than $134 million through USAID and more than $19 million through the U.S. Department of State.
Humanitarian needs in Ethiopia are staggering, particularly in areas where conflict and drought have made it more difficult for people to meet their most immediate needs. More than 15 million people are projected to be food insecure this year, as a result of compounding crises, including continuing conflict in Amhara and Oromia, elusive peace in Tigray, and the ongoing impacts of climate change, which is fueling extreme weather including drought and flooding.
This additional humanitarian assistance will provide emergency food assistance and support agriculture, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions benefitting some of the 21 million people across Ethiopia in need of aid, including internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees, and host communities. USAID is working with trusted international and local organizations to distribute food commodities like grain and cooking oil, as well as highly nutritious foods to combat acute malnutrition among children and breastfeeding women.
Additionally, this assistance will enable partners to provide critical shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene services to keep people safe and healthy by preventing the spread of disease. The Department of State will support humanitarian assistance for the nearly one million refugees living in Ethiopia, including more than 42,000 refugees who have fled the conflict in Sudan since April 2023. This assistance includes shelter, protection, and mental health support for refugees and other displaced persons across Ethiopia.
The U.S. remains the largest donor of humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, providing nearly $243 million in life-saving aid to date in Fiscal Year 2024. Given the sheer scale of humanitarian needs across Ethiopia, which continue to outpace the resources to address them, we urge other donors to provide additional support for the people of Ethiopia during this challenging time.
