Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

To contribute to the most needed humanitarian and early recovery assistance for the population affected by the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Specific Objective: The most vulnerable IDPs and affected population by the Tigray crises are better able to meet their basic needs and have access to a functioning emergency medical service in Southern Tigray and North Wollo Zone.

Expected results

ER1: The most vulnerable and returned IDPs and recently affected population in Southern Tigray, North Wollo Zone and surrounding regions have access to multipurpose cash assistance and/or Non Food items to cover their basic needs, particularly focusing on women (22,500 people).

ER2: The most vulnerable and returned IDPs and recently affected population in Southern Tigray, North Wollo Zone and surrounding regions have improved access WASH services with specific focus on needs of women and vulnerable groups (15.500people).

ER3: The most vulnerable and returned IDPs and recently affected population in Southern Tigray and North Wollo Zone has access to emergency medical services, offering First Aid and medical transportation capacities to health facilities (7.920 people).

Target group / Beneficiaries

a) Target group: Total direct beneficiaries: 35.920 people

The project will focus on the conflict affected population in Southern Tigray and North Wollo, which includes (new and former) IDPs and host communities, IDPS in groups or settlements and returnee communities. For multipurpose cash distribution general vulnerability criteria will be used, with a focus on women, as they are disproportionally affected by armed conflict (70% female/ 30% male). For access to water supply, the selection of communities will be done in cooperation with the regional Emergency Coordination Center in Mekele.

b) Implementing Partner of the Applicant: Ethiopian Red Cross

c) Exact Location (region, district, etc): Southern Tigray (Alamata, Chercher, Raya Azebo) and North Wollo (Raya Kobo Woreda).

Activities

1.1. Conduct rapid market assessment and feasibility, including a gender analysis,

1.2 Design the multipurpose cash program (SMEB), cash delivery mechanism, trainings and roll-out of targeting criteria including beneficiary selection

1.3 Establish CEA mechanisms to ensure information can be shared with recipients,

1.4. Distribute cash assistance (2 rounds in SW, 1 round in NW) to selected vulnerable households and conduct post distribution monitoring

1.5. Distribute NFIs to selected vulnerable households - in case CVA modality is not feasible,

2.1. Provide safe drinking water to conflict affected communities, through water trucking or rehabilitation of existing water systems,

2.2. Conduct a consultation process with women and vulnerable groups on gender aware and inclusive planning and repair of the destroyed water systems,

2.3. Provide maintenance kits and tools for water infrastructure to local water officials,

2.4 Conduct stakeholder WS for the targeted communities and WASH officers regarding operation and maintenance

3.1. Train ambulance attendants on First Aid, PSS, rescue techniques, mother and child health, operation of emergency equipment and infection prevention and control,

3.2. Preposition health supplies for emergency trauma response and referrals for ambulance vehicles,

3.3. Procure an ambulance vehicle and provide First Aid and ambulance service,

3.4 Support operation and running costs of ambulance staffs and vehicles,

3.5. Support local ERCS branch in renovating their damaged building and replacing office equipment.

Context

Since the outbreak of the conflict in November 2020 in Tigray region between the warring parties, the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia has deteriorated and become dire. Fighting re-escalated in late August 2022, after peace talks broke down, which has worsened humanitarian needs in Tigray and its border areas in Amhara and Afar regions, where Southern Tigray and North Wollo Zone are located. Following the announcement of peace agreement in early November 2022, IDP return movements were reported to newly accessible areas in North Wollo, North Gondar and Wag Hemra zones and Southern Tigray (Alamata area). The ERCS rapid assessment (November 2022) as well as International Organization Migration (IOM) - Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) reported that more than 80,000 IDPs from North and South Wollo and half of the IDPs in Jara campsites that hosted more than 30,000 IDPs have already returned to their areas of origin in Southern Tigray and bordering North Wollo areas. The majority of the returned IDPs were likely displaced multiple times due to the hostilities. Most of them have already lost their livestock and their homes are damaged or looted.

Food insecurity levels have drastically increased in northern Ethiopia, with an estimated 13 million people requiring food assistance. The conflict has interrupted agricultural activities, and people’s coping mechanisms have eroded throughout the two years of conflict. The use of negative coping strategies especially for women and children such as begging has increased, particularly in response to the lack of food.

Access to essential services worsened in the past two years. Based on ERCS rapid assessment and data collected from North Wollo zonal authorities, 43% of water schemes are damaged, which resulted in a decline of safe water coverage from 53% to 36%. Further, the conflict led to the destruction, of critical health facilities as well as medical and first aid services. 4 ambulances of ERCS in North Wollo and Southern Tigray have been looted during the conflict. Lack of ambulance vehicles has led to increased maternal and perinatal deaths in the area. Currently, more than 30,000 women are without any prenatal care, more than 17,764 pregnant and lactating women have been identified for acute malnutrition (ERCS assessment report). Based on these rapid assessment findings, humanitarian assistance needs in areas of return are huge, and priority intervention areas identified are food, basic needs, WASH and health.