Ethiopia — humanitarian situation

Ethiopia continues to confront a multifaceted humanitarian crisis driven by conflict, climate shocks, displacement, and disease outbreaks (OCHA). During 2025, millions remained in need of critical assistance, particularly in areas affected by insecurity, recurrent drought, and limited access to essential services, with the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund playing a central role in supporting life-saving humanitarian assistance (OCHA). While ongoing regional instability continues to drive new displacement across the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia's approach demonstrates integration of refugee protection with inclusion efforts (UNHCR). The security environment remains volatile, as evidenced by the five-year anniversary of the killing of three MSF staff members in central Tigray on 24 June 2021, for which the Government of Ethiopia has not concluded or shared outcomes of a credible investigation despite continuous engagement efforts (MSF). UNHCR operations support refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, and vulnerable host communities through comprehensive programming across multiple sectors (UNHCR). For the 2025-2026 academic year, 193,885 refugee students enrolled in pre-primary, primary, and secondary education, with an additional 3,757 refugee youth enrolled in universities, colleges, and technical/vocational training programs across Ethiopia (UNHCR). Healthcare services reach refugees and neighboring host communities through 26 health centers, 2 health posts, and 2 mobile health posts at emergency refugee sites, with referrals facilitated to secondary and tertiary hospitals (UNHCR). UNHCR's cash-based interventions strategy for 2025-2029 aims to strengthen protection, enhance resilience, and promote economic and social inclusion through timely assistance to meet basic needs and emergencies (UNHCR). Shelter and settlement programming focuses on providing safe, dignified housing while advancing integrated, climate-resilient settlements aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees and Ethiopia's human settlement commitments under the Makatet Roadmap (UNHCR). Water, sanitation, and hygiene services are being strengthened with emphasis on improving WASH facilities in areas hosting forcibly displaced and stateless populations, ensuring integration with regional water bureaus and local development offices (UNHCR). Fundraising efforts continue to complement targeted humanitarian assistance, with active resource mobilization advocacy conducted in collaboration with operating partners (UNHCR).