Addis Ababa, January 21, 2022 (Walta) – The Government of Japan has pledged to provide a humanitarian assistance package to conflict, COVID-19, and drought-affected areas of Ethiopia.
In its press release, the Embassy of Japan in Addis Ababa stated that the government of Japan assistance package is worth about 14 million USD (700 million Birr) through its partnerships with various international organizations.
As a follow-up to the commitments made at TICAD 7 in Yokohama in August 2018, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, Japanese humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, to be implemented in Japanese Fiscal Year (JFY) 2021/2022, is focused on following areas. According to the embassy, the relief areas are as follows;
First, Food Security and Nutrition: Japan will provide over 2 million USD to the WFP to prevent and treat acute malnutrition for over 29,800 children aged 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women in Afar, Amhara, and Tigray states.
Second, Health and Wash: In order to meet acute needs, Japan will provide about 7 million USD to ICRC, UNICEF, and UNOPS. This assistance will be needed to enhance access to primary health care and improve water and sanitation services and facilities for IDPs and host communities in drought and conflict-affected seven states namely Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray. It is estimated this assistance will benefit over 1 million people.
Third, Emergency Shelter, Non-Food Items (NFIs) and Protection: In order to improve access to the protection and lifesaving support incl. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) (through the provision of Emergency Shelter, NFIs, and basic services) for about 0.3 million IDPs, returnees, and host communities in conflict and COVID-19 affected areas in all 10 states except Harari and Sidama, Japan will provide about 5 million USD to IOM, OCHA, UNFPA, and UNHCR.