United Nations allocates $8.5 million for northern Ethiopia aid

The United Nations has allocated $8.5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide life-saving aid in northern Ethiopia. Announced by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, the funding is intended to support more than 202,700 people across the Tigray, Amhara, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.

The resources will target populations facing new or secondary displacement, communities with broken basic services, and areas with limited humanitarian presence. Priority sectors for the funding include water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, health, nutrition, and protection services.

This allocation brings the total CERF support to Ethiopia in 2026 to over $22.5 million. Previous funding addressed anticipatory actions in the Afar and Amhara regions due to drought conditions linked to El Niño. While aid access has improved in several northern regions, humanitarian efforts continue to face challenges from insecurity, fuel shortages, and overall funding gaps.