Ethiopia Humanitarian Country Team visits Metekel Zone of Benishangul Region to see humanitarian situation, response

The Ethiopia Humanitarian Country Team (EHCT) led by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr. Catherine Sozi, conducted a field visit to Metekel Zone of Benishangul Gumuz region from 20-21 April 2022.

The team interacted with people displaced by the ongoing violence in the region, local authorities and partners to understand the humanitarian situation in the region.

The violence in the region has displaced approximately 411,014 people, of whom, 65 per cent (266,000 IDPs) are in Metekel Zone.  At least 12,000 houses, 142 schools, 107 health posts and 183 animal health posts have been damaged. Up to 660 water schemes out of the 1,494 in the zone are non-functional. The security situation in the Zone remains tense and volatile – significantly restricting humanitarian access to hard-to-reach areas with the most critical needs.

The Ethiopia Humanitarian Country Team saw firsthand the dire situation that requires additional resources to deliver critical humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, water and sanitation of the affected population and ensure the IDPs are protected.

In conversations with the Ethiopian Humanitarian Country Team, the internally displaced persons reiterated their interest to return to their homes and revive their livelihoods if peace is restored and their security is not at risk.

“The situation is very sobering,” Dr. Sozi said. “The humanitarian response should be beefed up to ensure internally displaced people live a dignified life until they return to their homes”.

The team also visited Pawe hospital in Metekel Zone and discussed with officials and staff of the hospital.

The United Nations continues to work with partners on the ground to support the affected communities and to complement the response made by national and local authorities to this dire situation.