Government strengthens existing humanitarian response systems: Commissioner

 

The National Disaster  Risk Management Commission Commissioner Mitiku Kassa said crop yield increment in northern and western parts of the country resulted in the  reduction of number of aid recipient.

Briefing the press Tuesday, the commissioner said the number declined by 44 percent when compared with previous year 10.2 million.

However, Mitiku said based on a Government-led multiagency Meher needs assessment, the rain in pastoral and lowland areas of the country  was below the expected threshold critically affecting  around 5.6 million people in    Oromia,  Somali, Amhara, SNNP and Afar states.

“An estimated  948 million USD is required to overcome the drought,  of which 598 million USD  is for emergency food assistance and the remaining for non-food aid,” he added.

Unveiling that  government’s  first installment  47.35 million USD, he stressed the need for strengthening existing coordination systems among government, UN agencies, NGO’s and donors to ensure a robust and effective humanitarian response.

Noting the success in overcoming last year’s drought,  UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia Ahunna Eziaco-Onochie attributed  the   success to government  early warning, timely funding and effective collaboration of the international community.

She said the El Nino has left a negative legacy on many households, including  a substantial number of livestock loss and other productive assets. “And    2017 Humanitarian Requirements Document does not include  recovery needs, but is expected to be captured in a separate document.”

The coordinator further expresses conviction that the close coordination and partnership between the government and its humanitarian partners would continue with more vigor.

She also lauded the government’s installment and vowed to strengthen engagements

source ethpress.