United States, through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing nearly $313 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people affected by the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia.
In a statement released by the Agency on Thursday, stated that across the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions, continued fighting and lack of humanitarian access has left as many as 9 million people facing severe food insecurity and forced more than 2 million people to flee their homes.
According to the Agency, "In Tigray alone, more than 90 percent of people need aid, while across all three northern regions as many as 1 million people are projected to face famine-like conditions by June.
"The new funding announced today will support emergency food and nutrition assistance to meet the needs of nearly 7 million people; strengthen community health facilities and mobile health teams to combat infectious diseases.
"Provide humanitarian protection services, such as support for survivors of gender-based violence, psychosocial services, and child protection activities; and bolster logistics support to deliver aid to people in remote and hard-to-reach areas".
USAID further said that United States is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the northern Ethiopia response efforts, and we remain committed to helping all people in need across Ethiopia.
"The U.S. has provided more than $995 million in humanitarian assistance to northern Ethiopia since the crisis began, including more than $885 million through USAID and nearly $110 million through the U.S. Department of State".
The Agency noted that his assistance is vital, but much more is needed. "As the Russian Federation’s war on Ukraine only threatens to further compound dire needs amid rising global food prices.
"Ethiopia is an immediate concern based on the country’s high levels of food insecurity and reliance on wheat imports from Ukraine. While humanitarian assistance is critical for saving lives, a political solution is the only way to end the suffering of the Ethiopian people.
"The United States strongly supports the recent truce reached by the Government of Ethiopia and Tigray regional authorities and urges all parties to build on this positive development, end needless suffering, and help Ethiopia progress towards a resilient future".
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