Nairobi (Business Emerge), October 8: The United Nations is evaluating the possibility of halting its relief efforts, including food distribution, in Ethiopia’s Amhara region after recent violent incidents targeting aid workers. This proposal, outlined in a confidential document from August 2024, has been reviewed by multiple diplomats.
According to the document, five humanitarian workers were killed during the first half of 2024, while 10 others were either assaulted or physically harmed. Additionally, 11 aid workers were kidnapped by unidentified groups, escalating security concerns in the region.
The three-page document, labeled “internal,” reveals that the U.N. is seriously considering a temporary halt to all relief efforts in Amhara. However, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors are pushing back against this decision, sources involved in the discussions have confirmed.
Should the suspension go into effect, it would severely impact the over 2.3 million residents of Amhara who depend on food assistance for survival, according to comments from two donor countries and an NGO representative, who chose to remain anonymous.
Amhara is home to a population exceeding 36 million and serves as a key refuge for those escaping the conflict in neighboring Sudan. Since July 2023, clashes between Ethiopian military forces and the Amhara Fano militia have resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of thousands, according to U.N. reports.
The Fano militia, which once fought alongside the Ethiopian military during the two-year civil war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, has since seen its relationship with the federal government deteriorate. The militia accuses Addis Ababa of weakening Amhara’s security by disbanding its regional forces.