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Strong winds and heavy rain destroyed large parts of the Metema camp in western Ethiopia around 6pm Ethiopian time on Friday.
Residents of flooded homes are calling for emergency assistance.
The best way to donate to the camp disaster is through this GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergency-relief-eritrean-refugees
Here’s some background on the camp, which grew rapidly after war broke out in neighboring Sudan.
source: Ocha
Analysis (6 months ago)
Update #34: Sudan’s impact on Ethiopia
emphasize
- Since April, more than 91,500 people have entered Ethiopia from Sudan;
- As of November 3, more than 9,000 refugees have received food assistance at the Kurmuk transit center;
- Food aid to people across Ethiopia resumed from 14 November;
- At least 18 cholera cases reported in Metema Woreda between the past 8 and 21 days;
- Partners continue to provide water and sanitation assistance but face challenges in meeting water and toilet allocations due to funding constraints.
Situation Overview
As of November 14, 2023, more than 91,500 people have entered Ethiopia since the ongoing crisis in neighboring Sudan began in April. The crossing points (PoEs) vary but are mainly located in the Metema-Western Gondar and Kurmuk-Assosa districts of the Amhara and Benishangul Gumuz regions. Ethiopian returnees have so far accounted for a larger proportion of arrivals, currently at 43%, followed by Sudanese nationals at 39% and third country nationals at 18%. There was a slight increase in the number of returnees in the week ending November 8 compared to the previous week, totaling nearly 1,000 people.
Demand and Response
Banks in Gondahuha, the capital of West Gondar district, are currently experiencing limited cash availability, which is impacting the operations of the partners. To address such operational challenges, the partners are considering arranging cash advances for operations from Gondar (193 km away). Hence, the arriving personnel will also receive Onward Transport Assistance (OTA) from Gondar.
educate
At the Kurmuk Transit Centre in Benishangul Gumz, about 190 children are enrolled in the new Emergency Education (EIE) programme (first grade curriculum).
food
Food distribution resumed in Kurmuk in early November, and as of 3 November, more than 9,000 arrivals had received food assistance in transit centres and host communities. In addition, approximately 6,400 people received food assistance in the form of firewood. Kurmuk currently hosts more than 16,000 people.
At the Metema border crossing, it is worrying that for months, the arriving refugees have only been able to receive limited food assistance (high-energy biscuits) with the support of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC), since July when two humanitarian partners stopped providing hot meal assistance due to funding constraints. American government The Ethiopian Government recently (14 November) announced the resumption of food assistance to all Ethiopians across the country, following comprehensive measures to ensure that food reaches those in need. Immediate commencement of food distribution to non-refugees at border crossings is essential to ensure the safety and dignity of affected people.
Health and Nutrition
In Amhara, arriving refugees continue to receive medical screening and counselling. Thus, in early November, 324 patients in the Metema transit centre and 553 patients in the Kumer settlement (including those from nearby host communities) received counselling. Moderate malnutrition cases are also being referred for nutritional treatment.
At least 18 cholera cases reported in Metema Woreda In the past 8-21 days, as of November 16, the cumulative number of cases in Woreda was 579 (1). In July 2023, the first case of cholera was reported in the Amhara region.
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is also one of the health services provided by Metema. In the last week, nearly 120 people received PFA to address urgent psychosocial needs, while more than 60 people received sexual and reproductive health services and birth preparation counseling for expectant mothers. Partners continue to support EPHI in conducting medical screenings at Metema PoEs.
Protect
In the first week of November, more than 1,200 children participated in indoor and outdoor learning and play activities in Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) at the Kurmuk Transit Centre in Gumuz, Benishangul, and at the Kumo Transit Centre and Metema Transit Centre in Amhara. At the centres in Amhara, vulnerable adults and children with special needs (currently close to 800) are receiving support with non-food items.
Shelter
In Metema, Ethiopian returnees are being supported with accommodation – 208 in the first week of November. The Olara site has recently been built and equipped with the necessary infrastructure/services and is ready to receive arrivals. However, resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers to Olara has reportedly been delayed until security measures are in place: deployment of new security officers. This situation has prolonged overcrowding at the Metema PoE.
wash
At the Kurmuk transit centre in Benishangul, people are provided with 10 litres of water per person per day, and in Sher Kol camp, some new arrivals are provided with 12 litres. At Kurmuk, 56 people share one toilet, which is still below the standard of 50 people per toilet. A pair of four-seater toilets were recently built in Sher Kol camp, which could close the toilet access gap. Mobilisation of resources by partners is necessary to keep water and toilet distribution in line with emergency standards.
In Metema, partners continue to provide clean, drinkable water to PoE and regularly test water quality to ensure that affected people have access to safe drinking water.
funds
A $5 million UN Grants Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) On July 4, the fund was approved to provide life-saving assistance to refugees who have just arrived in Ethiopia from Sudan. The CERF grant provided by IOM, WHO and UNHCR through implementing partners has enhanced access to basic services including protection, emergency shelter and non-food assistance, food, water, hygiene and sanitation, health care and transport for an estimated 100,000 affected people in Kumer refugee camp in Amhara region and Kurmuk in Benishangul Gumuz region for six months.
In response to the humanitarian needs within Sudan and the complex mixed flows in the region, including Ethiopia, including those of internally displaced persons, returnees, third-country nationals, host communities and refugees, the United Nations and its partners launched the Regional and national response plans Calling on the international community to donate:
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