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Download Report (PDF | 2.43 MB) HIGHLIGHTS
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Ethiopia records over 85,800 crossings as the Sudan humanitarian crisis enters its sixth month;
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Humanitarian access improves in Amhara opening more routes and access to refugees and asylum seekers;
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Food assistance to refugees in Kumer and Kurmuk sites commence, following reforms in Ethiopia's refugee food assistance structure;
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In Kurmuk, malaria remains a health concern amid shortage of medical supplies;
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Water continues to be provided in refugee sites but falls short of meeting the minimum standard in amount per person per day.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Since the onset of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan mid-April 2023, about 1.1 million people have crossed into neighbouring countries namely, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan as of 8 October. Ethiopia, which continues to receive returnees, refugees and asylum seekers has recorded nearly 85,800 crossings as of 17 October, mainly via two border entry points, in Kurmuk (Assosa Zone) in the Benishangul Gumz Region and Metema (West Gondar Zone) in the Amhara Region.
NEEDS AND RESPONSE
Access
Access has improved as the United Nations, in coordination with national partners, continues to facilitate road access leading to opening of more humanitarian routes, therefore accessing people in need, including refugees and asylum seekers in Amhara and Benishangul Gumz regions. Region-wide internet shutdown in Amhara has, however, created communication challenges for humanitarian operations.
Food security
Around 35,000 people who fled from Sudan to Ethiopia since April, urgently require food assistance. So far, assistance has been under vulnerability-targeting and limited to hot meal provision in refugee sites, and high energy biscuits (HEB) at the Metema entry point since July. Distribution of food parcels to refugees is currently being rolled out by partners in five regions of Ethiopia, after an exceptional authorization for refugee populations including for those arriving from Sudan. This follows a reform, including full revamp of safeguards and control, of Ethiopia's refugee food assistance structure amid the ongoing nationwide pause on food distribution due to reported aid diversions mid-year.
Accordingly, food distribution for refugees, started on 13 October in Kurmuk, which hosts more than 16,000 people and on the 15th of October in Kumer site of nearly 8,000 people(1). Vulnerable families in Kurmuk are also receiving cash assistance, some of whom used it to buy food.
Health and nutrition
The movement of humanitarian cargo including much needed medicines, and medical and nutritional supplies reached West Gondar mid-October as part of a multi-partner humanitarian convoy to several zones in the Amhara Region.
Coordinated response to the cholera outbreak (first reported in July) helped lower infections in Kumer refugee site as of end of September. The Ethiopian Public Health Institute reported over 450 cases and eight deaths as of 15 October. Cholera awareness and prevention activities continue, as healthcare services at the site include patients from the surrounding host community. Children under five years and pregnant and lactating mothers in Kumer are receiving nutrition services, while a partner's mobile health and nutrition team attends to patients at the transit center in Metema.
In Kurmuk, patients receive health services with the support of the Ethiopian Government's Refugees and Returnees Service. Malaria remains a health concern amid shortage of medical supplies.
Protection
In Kumer and Kurmuk, children and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) are receiving protection services, including psychosocial support, referral services, while separated children were assisted with foster family arrangements. Parents and caregivers in Kurmuk also received cash support to ensure that children receive the parental support and care they need. Seventeen separated children, eight of them girls, were identified and registered in Kurmuk in the first week of October. Figures compound to over 500 unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC) registered in Benishangul Gumz since April, nearly half of whom are girls.
Shelter
Shelter remains a key priority for arrivals from Sudan. In Kurmuk, communal shelters damaged from intense rainfall have been repaired and families are being supported to return to them. Meanwhile, in Amhara, a proposed site for the establishment of a new settlement, in addition to the Metema transit site and Kumer refugee site, has been evaluated as suitable with a capacity to accommodate over 3,700 people.
WASH
Partners are responding to cholera at the Kumer site through awareness raising on cholera prevention, environmental and personal hygiene, however water distribution per person at both Kumer site and Metema transit center remain short of meeting the minimum standard of 15 liters per person per day.
FUNDING
A US$5 million allocation from the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) was approved on 4 July for life-saving assistance to new arrivals from Sudan in Ethiopia. The CERF allocation, through implementing partners, reinforces access to basic services for a forecasted 100,000 affected people in the Kumer refugee site, Amhara, and in Kurmuk, Benishangul Gumz, in sectors of protection, emergency shelter and non-food assistance, food, WASH, health and transportation for a duration of six months.
In response to addressing the humanitarian needs inside Sudan and the complexities of mixed movements response in the region including Ethiopia, inclusive of the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrant returnees, third-country nationals, host communities, and refugees, the United Nations and partners have launched regional and country response plans in appeal for international community contributions:
Sudan Emergency Regional Refugee Response Plan (May-December 2023) — Revised August 2023%2C%20and) (UNHCR)
Revised 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (OCHA)
Response Overview for the Sudan Crisis and Neighbouring Countries (IOM)
US$1.5 billion in donor pledges secured at High-level Pledging Event to Support the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region, June 2023
The 2023 Ethiopia Humanitarian Response Plan** (HRP)**is only 30 per cent funded out of the $3.99billion total requirements, as of 18 October. Response to the influx of people due to the situation in Sudan comes on top of the current needs. Additional funding is therefore urgently required to support this ongoing response in Ethiopia, as well as to pre-existing humanitarian needs identified in the HRP.
Source of information: This situation update is prepared through collated public information and data from partners and OCHA staff in the field, made available at the time of publication.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.
