IDPs need more support in Ethiopia, Gedeo, West Guji | Global Edition

About 970,000 people were internally displaced by conflict in the Gedeo area of ​​Ethiopia and west of Guji in the last four months, the majority in June. With so many people displaced in such a short time, the IOM, the UN Agency for Migration and humanitarian partners have stepped up their presence to provide urgent and vital badistance.

The IOM provides housing badistance and essential support items, facilitating access to water and sanitation services and raising awareness of the displaced populations in both areas , many of whom found refuge in unfinished buildings or unhygienic conditions with only a tarpaulin against the elements.

to sanitation and drinking water is a concern, as is the satisfaction of health needs. Over the past three weeks, IOM has built 318 latrine positions, seven temporary communal shelters and eight collective kitchens. To improve the overall delivery of humanitarian badistance, IOM provides support for travel tracking and site management.

Two planes transported by the UKAID in Ethiopia to displaced populations in Gedeo and West Guji delivered 200 tons this week. Most people fled their homes with a little more than the clothes that they wore. The UKAID airlifts contain materials and blankets that are sorely needed, as Ethiopia is in the midst of the cold rains. IOM and its partners started distributing aid yesterday and hope that it will take about 15 days to reach about 50,000 displaced people.

Earlier this week, IOM launched a $ 22.2 million appeal to continue its humanitarian operations in Gedeo and the West. Guji.

"We are extremely grateful to the donors, who have shown great support to the people and the Government of Ethiopia, but we need more funds to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Gedeo and West Guji," Said Maureen Achieng, IOM Chief of Mission in Ethiopia and representative to the African Union, IGAD and ECA. "Without additional funding, lives will be at risk. The needs are immense – the response of the international community must match them. "