UNHCR Regional Update 39 – Northern Ethiopia Emergency Situation Report (January 2023)

Key Developments

ETHIOPIA

The overall situation in Tigray continued to improve throughout the month of January. Fuel stations were being repaired and services resumed. In addition, eight fuel tankers carrying 368,000 litres of fuel were transported to Tigray region. The government also established a task force to ensure an uninterrupted daily supply of fuel transported from Djibouti port to the Tigray region.

The Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator met with UNHCR and humanitarian actors to discuss the response provided so far and the scale up of activities planned for Afar and Tigray. He requested partners to continue strengthening links with the regional authorities.

A delegation from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) from the US State Department led by the Regional Refugee Coordinator Addis Ababa, visited North Gondar from 24 to 26 January. They held discussions with UNHCR and partners, visited the Dabat health centre and primary hospital as well as Alemwach. Following a walk through the settlement, they met with refugee committee representatives who highlighted the key challenges they were facing in the site (security threat, lack of adequate access to medical services, inadequate shelter, lack of adequate WASH facilities, increasing mental health cases). PRM delegates took note of the refugees’ comments on the need to improve the services in Alemwach.

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees