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(New York, December 17, 2020): The United Nations has released $ 35.6 million for water, sanitation, medical supplies and protection for civilians caught up in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
Weeks of fighting in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia have reportedly left hundreds dead, thousands displaced and millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. More than 50,000 people, almost half of them children, have arrived in Sudan since November.
In Ethiopia, UN emergency funds will help health facilities obtain medicines, gloves and other supplies to care for the sick and wounded, and finance nutrition, clean water and shelter. In Sudan, funding will prioritize life-saving assistance to refugees, including shelter, medical care and clean water.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said: “After six weeks of conflict, the number of civilian casualties is increasing. Women and children arrive in Sudan with disturbing stories of violence, deprivation and abuse. Many have not.
“Conflicts like this are difficult to stop once they get out of control, the lives they extinguish cannot be recovered, and the grievances they create are long-lasting. At this time, the children cannot get help. We need unrestricted access now. “
The UN humanitarian chief has released $ 13 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help people within Ethiopia and $ 5 million for newly arrived refugees in Sudan. In addition to this funding, $ 12 million have been released from the UN Humanitarian Fund in Ethiopia and $ 5.6 million from the UN Sudan Humanitarian Fund.
Priority will be given to women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities as funds are disbursed.
In 2020, CERF provided vital, innovative and urgent assistance that helped 65 million people in 52 countries and territories for a total value of approximately $ 900 million, the highest amount CERF has allocated in a single year. This year, 18 country pooled funds have allocated $ 689 million to 600 partner organizations so far (with another $ 102 million in the approval process).
For more information, contact: In New York, Zoe Paxton, mailto: [email protected], +1 917 297 1542: In Geneva, Jens Laerke, mailto: [email protected], +41 79 472 9750
