Ethiopia Appeal

Ethiopia is facing a deepening crisis driven by ongoing conflict, climate shocks and public health emergencies. Humanitarian needs are expected to rise in 2026, particularly as conflict persists in regions incuding Amhara, Oromia and Tigray. In Tigray, the projected return of more than 500,000 people to their places of origin in Western Tigray will take place in a context of severely disrupted basic services. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons remain in overcrowded camps with limited access to essential services, and the situation in Western Tigray remains particularly complex and sensitive. Adults and children with disabilities in Ethiopia face heightened vulnerabilities due to stigma, discrimination and limited access to services. The 2025 national disability survey found that 20 per cent of households include a person with a disability, with the highest prevalence in Tigray (30 per cent).  

According to the latest Displacement Tracking Matrix, there are more than 1.9 million internally displaced persons, 2.8 million returnees and 1.1 million refugees within Ethiopia primarily originating from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and the Sudan. In addition, prolonged and recurrent droughts, intensified by climate change and the effects of the El Niño weather pattern, continue to impact Ethiopia's southern and eastern regions, including Afar, Somali, Oromia and parts of Amhara and South Ethiopia. These conditions have led to severe water shortages, loss of livelihoods and rising humanitarian needs. Similarly, the 2025 Bega season (the dry season, October to January) is projected to bring below-normal rainfall in southern Ethiopia, increasing drought risks in the Somali region in 2026. 

The complex public health situation in Ethiopia is driven by recurrent disease outbreaks, widespread displacement and conflict-related damage done to health infrastructure since 2020. The destruction of local health systems, combined with ongoing emergencies, has created a vicious cycle of morbidity, mortality and repeated outbreaks. As a result, between January and May 2025, more than 4,300 cholera cases and 2.4 million malaria cases were reported. Malnutrition is worsening due to the compounded impacts of conflict and climate shocks. SMART surveys and Rapid Nutrition Assessments in Tigray and Amhara have revealed global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates above 15 per cent, and a proxy GAM rate of 19.8 percent in four woredas of Tigray. 

Additionally, education is severely disrupted, and millions of children have been out of school for nearly three years due to conflict, flooding and windstorms. Protection risks are increasing, compounded by multiple armed conflicts, climate shocks and restricted access to services. Gender-based violence remains a critical concern, especially in conflict-affected areas and at displacement sites.

In 2026, UNICEF’s humanitarian strategy in Ethiopia will be guided by humanitarian principles, with a focus on inclusive, child-focused interventions. The strategy prioritizes the most vulnerable populations, including children, women, displaced families and persons with disabilities, aiming to save lives, reduce suffering and uphold dignity and rights. In line with the Humanitarian Reset, UNICEF is implementing a strategic shift to a more coordinated, predictable and sustainable humanitarian response. This includes strengthening partnerships with government and local actors, harmonizing planning and targeting, reducing duplications and linking humanitarian assistance with development and resilience-building interventions. 

Life-saving interventions focus on nutrition, health, WASH, child protection and education. Key actions include early detection and treatment of severe wasting, promotion of infant and young child feeding in emergencies, micronutrient supplementation and essential healthcare for pregnant and lactating women. Mental health and psychosocial support are delivered through safe spaces, while responses to cholera, malaria, measles, polio and mpox outbreaks protect vulnerable populations. Emergency WASH interventions – including water trucking – are combined with recovery-oriented, climate-resilient interventions. Humanitarian cash transfers support newly displaced and at-risk households and will be increasingly linked with government safety nets. 

To ensure access and service delivery, UNICEF maintains eight field offices and three satellite offices, including a new office in Nekemte town, Oromia region. Mobile health and nutrition teams will extend coverage to hard-to-reach and displacement-affected areas, while fixed facilities will be strengthened to maintain continuity in conflict- and drought-affected areas. UNICEF will give special attention to the projected return of more than 500,000 people to Western Tigray, where basic services remain severely disrupted.

Preparedness and anticipatory action are central to the UNICEF response, aligned with drought readiness measures led by the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission, including mobile clinics, vaccination campaigns, rapid response teams and maintenance of essential water infrastructure. As nutrition and WASH cluster lead and co-lead of the Education Cluster, UNICEF ensures coordinated, inclusive and effective response, supporting the 2026 cluster transition while fostering strong partnerships with local authorities, civil society and communities. Integrated programmes under the humanitarian–development–peace nexus include such work as building sustainable water systems using solar technology and linking to climate-smart agriculture for livelihoods.