Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – As Ethiopia confronts numerous humanitarian challenges due to the effect of disputes, recurrent climate surprises, as well as attacks of infectious diseases, the Eurpean Commission will provide €40 million in initial humanitarian assistance for 2025.
According to the Commission, the new EU aid package will back EU humanitarian backers on the ground in delivering protection, food aid, access to hygiene and clean water, cover, basic essential things, nutritional aid, disease precluding and access to primary health care, and education and safety for children caught up in humanitarian emergencies.
It will bring total European Union humanitarian aid in Ethiopia to €436.5 million since 2020. In particular, assistance will be provided to internally displaced and recently or recent came refugees from nations such as Sudan.
What are the main crises impacting Ethiopia in 2025?
The Ethiopian crisis is multifaceted: humanitarian, ongoing conflict, and environmental. The number of people projected to require humanitarian assistance is €10 million in 2025, with an estimated €5.3 million targeted for food aid due to severe food insecurity caused by erratic weather patterns triggered by La Niña. Many places are yet to recover from previous droughts and wars, which puts the population at risk at this time.
The health sector of Ethiopia has been stretched by the whole series of outbreaks of cholera and measles. The recent cholera outbreak that broke out in August 2022 has continued to infect many areas. Malaria persists in many regions, which can only worsen the health situation.
Recurrent droughts in Ethiopia have substantially affected agriculture and water availability. The current drought, caused by El Niño, has been the source of a new generation of food insecurity, especially in southern and southeastern lowland regions. Seismic activity in Afar and Oromia is now a new disaster threat, with more than 80 tremors, with the most important one measuring 5.7 on January 4, 2025. The estimated impact of these activities has affected some 81,750 people and generated urgent shelter and food emergency needs.
