27-05-2020 | di COOPI

Ethiopia. Support to displaced continues amid Covid-19

Despite the outbreak of the pandemic emergency, COVID19 is not the only priority in Ethiopia. In the latest years, recurrent conflicts and climatic shocks affected people’s ability to meet their basic needs and gaining a sustainable livelihood. COOPI supports a total of 43,098 beneficiaries in Guji Zone, Oromia Region, thanks to the project funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid “Integrated emergency assistance to internally displaces persons and hosting communities in South-eastern Ethiopia”.

After COVID-19 start, the European Commission and COOPI agreed increasing the number of water schemes to rehabilitate and the coverage of shelter intervention. Six water schemes will be rehabilitated, and 700 displaced households will receive shelter and non-food items kits (NFI). Moreover, COVID-19 emergency response will be in place in the area of intervention by supporting the availability of water in health posts/centres through water trucking and/or essential infection prevention materials.

Kit distribution held in 2019

Up to today, in the framework of the project, COOPI addressed internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities in Guji Zone. It supported the distribution of emergency shelter and not food items targeting 720 displaced households, selected among the most vulnerable. In addition, it provided 300 households with not food items full kits and water treatment chemicals, immediately after the escalation of the conflict in Guji.

In order to ensure the right to safe water, COOPI rehabilitated and expanded two water systems and it excavated three ponds for rainwater harvesting, serving communities in Liben and Gumi Eldallo Woreda. Moreover, to ensure sustainability, COOPI provided support in capacity building for water committee’s members and in promoting water treatment at household level using bio sand and ceramic filters.

Awareness on hygiene held in 2019

COOPI is present in Guji Zone, where 41,080 protracted IDPs have been in collective sites from 2017, due to the conflict on the border with Somali Region. The dire humanitarian situation in Guji has been aggravated since June 2019 when around 80.000 people were displaced, as result of widespread violence and clashes related to an internal conflict. The recurrent conflicts and climatic shocks affected people’s ability to meet their basic needs and gaining a sustainable livelihood.

Ethiopia is still highly vulnerable to a wide range of natural and man-made disasters: over 8.4 million individuals are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. COOPI has been working in Oromia region since 1995, implementing a range of Food Security, Emergency Shelter and Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene interventions supporting the most vulnerable population exposed to the combined effects of man-made and natural hazards. Thanks to the solidarity of European citizens, COOPI can continue its work of saving lives and helping communities to bounce back from shocks, also in hardship and volatile security contexts.

Cover photo: distribution held in 2019