ETHIOPIA Humanitarian Access Situation Report April - June 2020 Highlights • The operational environment to relief operations re- mained permissive through the reporting period. • Insecurity and violence continues to be the main im- pediment to relief operations in Ethiopia, affecting in particular west and southern Oromia. • Long-standing conflicts over land tenure and access to resources continue. The conflict in the Afar -Somali regional border, has left thousands stranded, out-of- reach to humanitarian partners. • The aid community in Ethiopia joined the global call made by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, for a cessation of hostilities to respond to COVID-19 in areas affected by violence. • By End-June, COVID-19 related government-imposed restrictions were eased, allowing intra and inter-re- gional movements. Partners are now able to operate without restrictions, respecting the mandatory use of masks, hygienic measures, and social distancing in their activities. • Despite the risk of COVID-19 and lingering commu- nity tensions, in May and June various regional ad- ministrations returned thousands of IDPs to areas of origin, i.e., Awi (Amhara) - Metekel (Benishangul Gumuz), East Hararge (Oromia) - Fafan (Somali), and Bale (Oromia) – Liban (Somali). • The humanitarian community has demanded a halt in the deportation of thousands of Ethiopian irregu- lar migrants in light of COVID-19, and a pause to the return of IDPs, until conditions in areas of return are fully conducive for the resumption of livelihoods in safety and security. • Partners have expressed regret on the lack of consul- tation / coordination by regional authorities on IDP return processes, and on the limited adherence to hu- manitarian and durable solutions principles given the dire situation returnees are facing in areas of return. • Whilst aid workers in Ethiopia are not directly targeted in the violence, operations are conducted in high-risk environments. Only in May, partners reported four vio- lent incidents against aid workers, including physical attacks, temporary arrests, threats and intimidation. • In May, WFP launched a system to monitor ‘road movements constraints’ in Ethiopia, and started issu- ing regular maps displaying the physical condition of roads (https://logcluster.org/countries/ETH) • On 29 June, the killing of an Oromo artist and politi- cal activist in Addis Ababa unleashed violent protests across Oromia, some taking an ethnic dimension. The situation has significantly impacted operations in Oromia and in other regions such as BGR, Gambela, and SNNPR. The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to Coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. www.unocha.org/ethiopia Bale Siti Doolo Afder Jarar Borena Liban Arsi Korahe Guji Shabelle Metekel Fafan Jimma Erer Awi Nogob Agnewak Kefa South Omo East Hararge Asosa Daawa Zone 1 (Awsi Rasu) Western South Wello Zone 2 (Kilbet Rasu) Central Gondar Central Mirab Omo West Arsi West Hararge North Shewa East Gojam Gamo West Gondar Kemashi West Shewa South Gondar West Guji North Wello Gofa Sidama Ilu Aba Bora Dawuro Siltie Wolayita North Gondar West Gojam East Wellega West Wellega North Western East Shewa Zone 3 (Gabi Rasu) Eastern Wag Hamra Nuwer North Shewa Guraghe Kelem Wellega Southern Oromia Zone 4 (Fantana Rasu) Buno Bedele Hadiya South Eastern Bench Maji Horo Gudru Wellega Sheka Konso Finfine Special South West Shewa Burji Zone 5 (Hari Rasu) Mejenger Amaro Gedeo Alle Konta Special Mao Komo Special Etang Special woreda Derashe Kembata Tibaro Halaba Special Hadiya Dire Dawa rural Yem Special Harari Region 14 Basketo Mekele Special SOMALI OROMIA TIGRAY AFAR AMHARA SNNP GAMBELA BENISHANGUL GUMUZ Addis Ababa Number of incidents by woreda 1-2 3-5 6-9 10-18 Active hostilities Restriction access to services Violence against humanitarians Physical environement Restriction on movement, personnel or goods Operational interference Total incidents 437 79% 7% 6% 4% 4% Total incidents 1% REPORTED ACCESS INCIDENTS BY REGION REPORTED ACCESS INCIDENTS BY TYPE 35 Access incidents related to COVID-19 Source: Access Incidents database The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. This report is produced by OCHA Ethiopia in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period April to June 2020. The next report will be issued in September 2020. 59% 11% 8% 7% 5% 4% 2% 2% 1% 1% Oromia Amhara Somali Gambela Benishangul Gumz Afar Addis Ababa Tigray SNNP Dire Dawa
Transcript
ETHIOPIAHumanitarian Access Situation ReportApril - June 2020
Highlights• The operational environment to relief operations re-
mained permissive through the reporting period.
• Insecurity and violence continues to be the main im-pediment to relief operations in Ethiopia, affecting in particular west and southern Oromia.
• Long-standingconflictsoverlandtenureandaccesstoresourcescontinue.TheconflictintheAfar-Somaliregional border, has left thousands stranded, out-of-reach to humanitarian partners.
• The aid community in Ethiopia joined the global call madebytheUNSecretary-General,AntonioGuterres,for a cessation of hostilities to respond to COVID-19 in areas affected by violence.
• By End-June, COVID-19 related government-imposed restrictions were eased, allowing intra and inter-re-gional movements. Partners are now able to operate without restrictions, respecting the mandatory use of masks, hygienic measures, and social distancing in their activities.
• Despite the risk of COVID-19 and lingering commu-nity tensions, in May and June various regional ad-ministrations returned thousands of IDPs to areas of origin, i.e., Awi (Amhara) -Metekel (BenishangulGumuz),EastHararge(Oromia)-Fafan(Somali),andBale(Oromia)–Liban(Somali).
• The humanitarian community has demanded a halt in the deportation of thousands of Ethiopian irregu-lar migrants in light of COVID-19, and a pause to the return of IDPs, until conditions in areas of return are fully conducive for the resumption of livelihoods in safety and security.
• Partners have expressed regret on the lack of consul-tation / coordination by regional authorities on IDP return processes, and on the limited adherence to hu-manitarian and durable solutions principles given the dire situation returnees are facing in areas of return.
• Whilst aid workers in Ethiopia are not directly targeted in the violence, operations are conducted in high-risk environments. Only in May, partners reported four vio-lent incidents against aid workers, including physical attacks, temporary arrests, threats and intimidation.
• In May, WFP launched a system to monitor ‘roadmovements constraints’ in Ethiopia, and started issu-ing regular maps displaying the physical condition of roads(https://logcluster.org/countries/ETH)
• On 29 June, the killing of an Oromo artist and politi-calactivistinAddisAbabaunleashedviolentprotestsacross Oromia, some taking an ethnic dimension. The situation has significantly impacted operations inOromiaandinotherregionssuchasBGR,Gambela,andSNNPR.
ThemissionoftheUnitedNationsOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA)istoCoordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises.
We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.www.unocha.org/ethiopia
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Bale
Siti
Doolo
Afder
Jarar
Borena
Liban
Arsi
Korahe
GujiShabelle
Metekel
Fafan
Jimma Erer
Awi
Nogob
Agnewak
Kefa
South Omo
East Hararge
Asosa
Daawa
Zone 1 (Awsi Rasu)
Western
South Wello
Zone 2 (Kilbet Rasu)
Central Gondar
Central
Mirab Omo
West Arsi
West Hararge
North Shewa
East Gojam
Gamo
West Gondar
Kemashi
West Shewa
South Gondar
West Guji
North Wello
Gofa
Sidama
Ilu Aba Bora
Dawuro
Siltie
Wolayita
North Gondar
West Gojam
East WellegaWest Wellega
North Western
East Shewa
Zone 3 (Gabi Rasu)
Eastern
Wag Hamra
Nuwer
North Shewa
Guraghe
Kelem Wellega
Southern
Oromia
Zone 4 (Fantana Rasu)
Buno Bedele
Hadiya
South Eastern
Bench Maji
Horo Gudru Wellega
Sheka
Konso
Finfine Special
South West Shewa
Burji
Zone 5 (Hari Rasu)
Mejenger
Amaro
Gedeo
Alle
Konta Special
Mao Komo Special
Etang Special woreda
Derashe
Kembata TibaroHalaba Special
Hadiya
Dire Dawa rural
Yem Special
Harari
Region 14
Basketo
Mekele Special
SOMALIOROMIA
TIGRAY
AFAR
AMHARA
SNNP
GAMBELA
BENISHANGULGUMUZ
Addis Ababa
Number of incidents by woreda
1-2 3-5 6-9 10-18
Active hostilities
Restriction access to services
Violence against humanitarians
Physical environement
Restriction on movement,personnel or goods
Operational interference
Totalincidents
437
79%
7%
6%4%4%
Totalincidents
1%
REPORTEDACCESSINCIDENTSBYREGION
REPORTEDACCESSINCIDENTSBYTYPE
35AccessincidentsrelatedtoCOVID-19
Source: Access Incidents database The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
This report is produced by OCHA Ethiopia in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period April to June 2020. The next report will be issued in September 2020.
59%
11%8% 7%
5% 4%2% 2% 1% 1%
Oromia Amhara Somali Gambela Benishangul Gumz Afar Addis Ababa Tigray SNNP Dire Dawa
COVID-19 Humanitarian access in Ethiopia
Generally,lackofaccesshindersthequalityoftheresponseandthescaleatwhichpartnerscandelivergoodsand services to people in need. In Ethiopia, COVID-19 entails another layer of complexity to relief operations, in addition to active hostilities, community violence and unrest, violence against humanitarians, movement restrictions or physical access constraints.
COVID-19posesamuchhigherrisktothepopulationinareasaffectedbyviolence(westandsouthernOromia),astheseare traditionally underserved in terms of government presence and services, and have a reduced number of partners. Due to curtailed access to health and water and limiting prevention measures, areas with inter-community confrontations, e.g., Metekel(BGR)andCentralGondar(Amhara),areequallyexposed.Similarly,isolatedandboundaryareasbetweenAfar/OromiaandSomaliregionsandthosewithstructuraldeficits(Afar,BGR,SNNPR,orSomali),facethesamechallenges.In some areas, COVID-19 related restrictions have impacted IDPs ability to meet basic needs and forced them to adopt harmfulcopingmechanismssuchasincreasedchildmarriageratesinAmhara,increasedinchildlabor/begginginGedeo(SNNPR)/WestGuji(southernOromia),orcasesofwomenengagedintransactionalorsurvivalsexreportedintheWel-legas(westernOromia).Lastly,severalsourcesinformedaboutanincreaseingender-basedviolence(GBV)inplaceslikeCentralGondar(Amhara)orGambela.
Theaidcommunityandgovernmentcounterpartssteppedupeffortstoensurethatpartners–andprivatecontractors–could continue movements and operations throughout the country, including COVID-19. The UN advocated for international and regional borders to remain open for the import of relief items and movements of humanitarian staff; fast-tracking the issuance of visas for staff involved in COVID-19 response; or the facilitation of extension of visas and work permits for staff in-country.
Partners reported difficulties in obtaining exit visas for their staff, importing/ processing customsof telecommunica-tionsequipmentsuchassatellitephones.Ontwooccasions,aidworkersweretemporarilydetainedfornotrespectingmovement restrictions or social distancing measures. Overall, partners have reported 34 incidents linked to COVID-19 and governmentrestrictions(StateofEmergency,SoE),sixofwhichinAddisAbaba,12intheOromiaregion.SevencaseswererelatedtotheenforcementofSoEmeasuresbysecurityforces;13torestrictionsofmovements;10violence/intimidationofaidworkers(stigmatization).Reportedly,therehasbeenageneralincreaseincrime,suchasstreetrobberies,thefts,andhouse break-ins across the country, related to the deteriorated socio-economic situation.
Atthetimeofwriting,COVID-19relatedgovernmentrestrictionshavebeeneasedthroughthecountry.Partnerscanoperatewithout restrictions, on the condition of respecting the mandatory use of masks and social distancing. In terms of logistics, internationalbordershaveremainedopenforhumanitarianteamsandsupplies.IntheMoyaleborder(Kenya),customsauthoritiesallowedtheentryofaidsupplieswithoutrestrictions,whileotherboundariessuchasMetema(Sudan)havebeenclosedtoallmovements.WFP,andthenewlyestablishedLogisticsCluster,areactivelymonitoringthesituationinallborders in Ethiopia.
Partnershavescaled-upCOVID-19HealthandWASHactivities(INGOgroup“HINGO”hasre-programmedactivitiesworthUS$70million),andinsomecasesaffectedregularhealthandnutritionservices.Operationshavebeendelayedpromotingnew ways of working, such as distributing various rounds of food aid in one go, or resorting to remote protection monitor-ing.AccordingtoastudybyOCHA/Clusters,theimpactofCOVID-19inhumanitarianprogrammeshasbeenestimatedatsevenpercent.Activitiesentailingdirectcontactwithbeneficiaries,workshops,fieldassessments,etc.havebeeninter-rupted. Lastly, coordination services have been impacted, forcing partners to resort to virtual meetings, when possible.
AccessSituationReportApril-June2020|2
Afar - (Zone 1 and 3) – Somali (Siti zone) – Eastern Oromia (West Hararge)
Afar regionhasbeenparticularly impactedbyCOVID-19given itsstrategic location in termsofpopulationmovementsandentryofcommoditiesfromDjibouti.TheoperatingenvironmentcontinuestobecharacterizedbysimmeringethnictensionsbetweenAfariandAmhara,Oromo,andSomalineighbors.Overall,partnershavereported14ofsuchincidentsfromApriltoJune.
ClashesinvolvingAfarandSomaliIssaclancontinuealongboundaryareasbetweenAfar’szone1and3andSittizone(Somali).ThesituationinthethreecontestedkebelesofGedmayitu(Amibaraworeda),Undufo(Gewaneworeda),andAd-eyitu(Milleworeda)remainsveryvolatile(see“OCHAAccessSnapshot-Afarregion/Sittizone,Somaliregion–asof31January”forfurtherdetails,https://bit.ly/39OqXib).Duringthereportingperiod,sixviolentincidentstookplaceinzone3,involvingethnicAfariandOromofromKeryu/SubClaninAwash,andSomalifromIssaClan.Allclashescausedcausalitiesand prompted the intervention of security forces, and blocked partners’ access, while the humanitarian situation is dire. ZonalauthoritiesestimatethatbetweenJulyandOctober2019,78,000peoplehavebeendisplaced,mainlyinthreevillag-es,i.e.Dhalactu,Allale,andMadaneaswellasinotherremoteones.Reportedly,thenumberofpeopleinneedisincreasinginremotepartsofGablalu,Erer,AfdemandMaisoworedas,wheremovementsforUNAgenciesremainrestricted.Thelackof road infrastructure in such a vast region impacts partners’ movements and operations.
PartnersinAfardonotfeelsafetooperatebeyondtheeasternpartofthe‘Awashhighway’.InMay,twoincidentsimpactedpartners directly, one related to a physical assault against aid workers and another related to the looting of aid supplies. Theseincidentsshowthehighriskenvironmentforhumanitarianoperations,whichincontestedareasmaybecomequicklypoliticized.Thereisaneedforregionaladministrationstostrengthenpeacebuildingandreconciliationeffortswithinvolve-ment of all IDPs in order to improve access conditions and step up critical assistance to the population.
Amhara region
Theoperational environment inAmhara ismarkedbymultiple localizedconflicts, some involvingUAGsandgroupsofarmedyouth,othersbetweenAmhara,Afari,GumuzorOromocommunities.Partnershavereported34incidentsofhostil-itiesandcommunityviolence,impactingoperations.Anincreaseincriminalactivitiesandtheproliferationofsmallarmsremain a concern for safety of aid workers.
InWestandCentralGondar,thesituationremainedstable,however,inNorthGondar,inMay,clashesbetweenayouthgroupand security forces caused a number of casualties. On a positive development, a peace initiative led by religious and com-munityleadersandtheinvolvementofUAGmembersinvariouslocalitiesledtoanagreementbetweentheyouthgroupandAmharaauthoritiestoendviolence.InrelationtopreviousviolencewithEthnicQemantcommunitiesinWestandCentralGondar,accordingtoregionalauthorities,therehasbeennoreportedsecurityincidentsforthepastmonths.
InMayandJune,EthiopianandSudanesearmedforcesclashedalongthecommonborderinMetemadistrict,WestGondar,affecting communities on both sides and disrupting economic activities. No forced displacement or humanitarian impact wasreported.Atthetimeofwriting,thesituationintheareaiscalm.
Amhara (Awi zone) – Benishangul Gumuz region (Metekel zone)
SinceSeptember2018,clashesbetweenAmharaandGumuzcommunitiesinMetekelzonedisplacedthousands21,000IDPstoAwiand10,000IDPswithinMetekelrespectively.InJanuary,followingaseriesofpeaceandreconciliationcon-ferences,BenishangulGumuzRegion(BGR)authoritiesannouncedaplantoreturnIDPsinMetekelZonetotheiroriginalplaces.However,violencebetweenthetwocommunitiescontinuedinAprilandMay,withnineviolentincidentsreportedinMetekel, of which six in Mandura woreda. There remains deep resentment among communities over unresolved disputes, border demarcation and land ownership.
EarlyApril,inGilgelbelestown(Metekel),severalclashesamongcommunitiescausedcasualtiesandpromptedthede-ploymentofsecurityforcestocalmthesituation.InApril,severalincidentstookplaceinJawiworeda(Awi)intheborderwith Dangura woreda(Metekel).InMay,clasheseruptedinGuanguaandZigemworedas(Awi),followingwhich,FederalauthoritiesdecidedtoestablishaCommandpostundertheleadershipoftheEthiopianDefenceForces(EDF)toendthecycle of violence and enable a smooth return of IDPs to areas of origin. No security incidents were reported in June.
InApril,BGRauthoritiesstartedtoreturnIDPswithinMetekelzone,some800toGumadikebele (Danguraworeda)and6,000IDPstoboundaryareaswithJawiworeda (Awi),whileontheotherside,Amharaauthoritiesannouncedplanstoreturn60,000IDPstoMetekel,afigurethatwasdisputedbyBGRauthorities.Atthetimeofwriting,near18,000IDPshavereturnedfromAmharatoMetekel,specificallytoDanguraandManduraworedas,andover10,000totheirplacesoforiginwithinMetekelzone.Inaddition,1,500people(mainlyGumuz)displacedfromJawiresidinginGilgelBeles’HighschoolreturnedtoJawi.AccordingtoAmharaauthorities,thereremainsome6,000IDPsinAwizone,whohavenotreturneddueto various reasons, including lack of resources.
Humanitarianpartnerswerecaughtoffguardbythedecisiontocommencereturns,andregrettedthelackofconsultationand preparatory work in areas of return. They also noted concern about the voluntariness of returns, for instance, IDPs in GilgelBeleshadexpressedtheirpreferencetoremaininMetekelandsomereportedlychosetoleave/hidetoavoidbeingreturned.Accordingtoa“go-and-seemission”inMetekel,returneesstatedtheyhadreturnedvoluntarilybutcomplainedaboutdifficultiesinaccessingtheirformerhousesandfarmlandsandlimitedassistanceavailable,emphasizingurgentneedsonshelterandNFIs.
Eastern Oromia (East Hararge) – Somali region (Fafan zone)
Inter-communalconflictbetweenJaro(Oromo)andGericlans(Somali)haslong-lastedinareasbetweenEastHararge(OromiaandFafan(Somali)mainlyduetoaccesstolandforpastureandresourcecompetition.In2015,andthrough2017,theconflictescalatedaspartofthelarge-scalepoliticalstand-offbetweenregionaladministrations,24,000peopleweredisplacedfromTuliguled(Fafanzone)toChinaksenworeda(EasternOromia)plus14,000fromboundarylocatedkebeles inOromia,andover42,000peopleweredisplacedfromChinaksentoTuliguled,Qoloji,JijigapluswithinboundaryareasontheSomaliside.Conflictcausedmanydeaths,burningofhouses,lootingofpersonalproperty,anddamagedcommunityfacilities such as health posts, water networks or schools.
TensionsandsporadicclasheswerereportedinFebruaryandMarchinChinaksenandTuliguled,causingcasualtiesinanumberofvillages.Sincethen,theoverallsituationimproved,thoughlingeringtensionsremain,impactingpartners’op-erationsonanintermittentbasis.Forinstance,inChinaksen,someboundaryareassuchasGololchaandUsuelekebelesremaintense,forcingpartnerstocanceloperationsinMay,whileatleastfivehealthpostsremainedclosedinJune.InotherpartsofEastHararghe,someareasofGursum,KumbiandMeyuworedas, are also inaccessible due to insecurity.
ByMid-June,bothregionalgovernmentsstartedreturningIDPstoareasoforigin,withtheinvolvementofEDFtosecuretheprocess.Some23,000IDPshavereturnedtoChinaksenandsome25,000toTuliguled,whilefurtherreturnscontinue.Inaddition,theDireDawaCityCouncilandSomaliadministrationareworkingtorelocate3,000IDPsfromtheMillenniumParkinDireDawatoShiniletown,Sittizone(Somali).AnassessmenttoChinaksenheardfromlocalauthoritiesandreturneesthatthereturnprocesshadbeen“consultativeandvoluntary”.Reportedly,IDPsrequestedtoreturntominimizetheriskofCOVID-19incongestedIDPsiteslikeQoloji.However,themissionidentifiedhugegapsintermsofprovisionofassistanceto the returnees, and partners regretted the limited consultation and involvement in the process. IDPs are unable to access servicesascommunityfacilitiessuchashealth,WASHoreducationremaindamaged,andunderscoredshelterandfoodas priority. In Tuliguled, another assessment unveiled an appalling situation, with returnees staying in open spaces or with relativesandinurgentneedoffood,water,health,andNFIs.Health,schools,animalhealthposts,andgrainmillersremainedalso dysfunctional.
Gambela region
Protractedconflicts, confrontationsbetweenethnicAgnuakandNuer, spill-over violenceandcross-borderattacks fromSouthSudan,andcriminalitycontinuetochallengereliefoperationsandsafetyofaidworkers.FromApriltoJune,partnersreportedover30accessandsecurityincidents,includingbetweenhostcommunitiesandrefugeesandamongsub-clans.InMayandJune,therewasaspikeinviolencebetweenhostandrefugeecommunitiesinGogworedaandPugnidotown,Ag-newakzone,withliveslostonbothsides.RefugeesinPugnidocampsrequestedtheirrelocation,destroyedsomefacilitiesin the camps, and denied partners’ access in protest.
InApril, anarmedclash inNyoplewandWie-GatluakareasofSouthSudan (betweenSPLM-IOandGeneralOchanPuotsupporters)borderingJikowworeda,Nuerzone,causedsomecasualtiesinEthiopia.InApril,variouscross-borderattacksalsocausedcasualtiesinvariousrefugeecampslocatedinGogandItangworedas, forcing partners to temporarily suspend operationsaffectingthedeliveryofcriticalassistancetorefugeesandhostcommunities.Further,variousattacksbyarmedgroups(allegedlyfromSouthSudan)raidedvillagesandrefugeecampsleavingaclimateoffearandinsecuritydisruptinglocallivelihoods.InMay,6,000IDPsdisplacedinMarchbyclashesbetweenNuersub-clansinMakueyworeda,Nuerzone,returnedto theirareaoforiginfollowingaseriesofpeaceandreconciliationconferences.However, IDPreturneeshavereportedly received limited support and are in need of basic assistance.
Overall, partners continue to operate in a highly insecure and volatile environment with no signs of improvement, and have expressedfrustrationonthelimitedimprovementofsecurity,whichwaspromisedafterthekillingoftwoINGOaidworkersinSeptember2019byunidentifiedarmedmen(stillatlarge).
Southern Oromia (West Guji) – SNNPR (Gedeo)
In West Guji, thesecuritysituationhasimprovedoverthelastmonths,nonetheless,operationsagainstUAGsinneighboringGujizonecontinuetoaffectfewboundarykebeles. Violence has impacted relief operations and blocked access intermit-tentlytopartsofGelana,Kercha,DugdaDawa,MelkaSoda,SuroBergudaworedas(nineincidentsfromApriltoJune).ThesecuritysituationinMelkaSodaremainsaconcern,and20,000IDPsremainoutofpartners’reachsincelastyearduetoinsecurityandfloods.Accessconstraintsandlowpartnercoveragearecurrentlyhinderingtheresponsetoacholeraout-break(since26June)inMelkaSodaworeda,withmorethan100confirmedcases.InAmaroworeda, there remain some 8,000especiallyvulnerableIDPs(outof24,000intotal),despitesomeassistanceprovidedbyauthoritiesandpartnersinMay-June,intermsoffood,shelterandNFIs.
Overall, tensionsbetweencommunities inWestGujihave remainednoticeably lowthanks tocontinuedcommunity-levelsecurity, and peace and reconciliation efforts. Partners continue recovery activities to address the needs of hundreds of thousandsofIDPreturneesfromGedeo,however,manyreturneesstillremaininneedoflivelihoods,shelterandNFIsaswellasfarmingtools(particularlyforcoffeeproduction)aswellasaccesstowaterandscholasticmaterials.InKerchaworeda, returneescomplainaboutthelackofsustainedfooddistributionasanestimated100,000peoplewerenotadequatelyoratallregisteredduringthejointverificationexercises.Similarly,some19,000left-outIDPsinSuroBergudaworeda(affectedbyinter-communalconflictforoverayear)remainoutofsupportschemes.
In Gedeo, followingtheauthorities’announcementinMarchindicatingthattherewerenoIDPsleftinthezone,protectionservicesprovidershavebeendeniedthenecessaryclearancetoproceed.Onapositivenote,followingSNNPregionalauthorities’approval,displacementtracking/monitoringactivitieshavebeenongoingandclosetocompletionin14zonesoftheregion,aimedatreliablyassessing the situation following the last year’s massive return of IDPs to areas of origin in the sub-region.
Southern Oromia (Guji and Borena zones)
InGuji,securityoperationsagainstUAGsimpactedpartners’movementsandoperations(24incidentsfromApril–June)andcausedhavocamongthepopulation,withover80,000peopledisplacedsincemid-2019.SinceApril,securityoperationsintensifiedinGumiEldelo,Liban,GoroDolaandSebaBoruworedas, with reported allegations of violence, arbitrary detentions and other human rights violationsagainstthepopulationbyallpartiestotheconflict.Reportsindicatecontinuedpopulationdisplacements,inJune,some800peopleweredisplacedfromGumiEldelotoNegelletown.Overall,120,800peopleremaindisplaced,80,800insuccessivewavessinceJune2019plus40,000sinceSeptember2017.Humanitarianspaceisshrinking,thoughpartnershavenotbeentargetedandcontinueto operate in such high risk context.
InsecurityandCOVID-19havesignificantlydelayedtheimplementationofprojects.Thepopulationissufferingasaresultofinsecurity,limitationstomovement(confinement)andlackofaccesstoservicesandlivelihoods.Near18,000IDPsremaininareasinaccessibletopartners.InMay,partnerswerenotabletoaccesstheentireGumiEldeloworedaandpartsofLiban,GoroDolaandSebaBoruwore-das.InJune,partners’accesstoSabaBoruwascutoffbysecurityforces.Authoritieshavedispatchedfoodtosome69,400IDPs(outof80,800IDPs),however,some11,400havenotreceivedfoodforthepastsevenmonths.IDPsandvulnerablepopulationremainindireneedofNFIs(clothes,householditems),shelterandWASH(see“OCHAAccessSnapshot-Gujizone,Oromiaregion–asof30June”for further details, https://bit.ly/39pg8Ew)
Lackofaccesshas impactedtheresponseto ‘desert locust’ inGuji,affectingthesupplyofpesticides/bio-insecticidesandotherequipmentforcontroloperations.Further,partnershavereportedcaseswherebyhealthpostsarebeingusedbysecurityforces,de-priving the community of such essential services, particularly in light of COVID-19. Only a handful of relief agencies are present and operationalinGuji.
ByearlyMay,Baleauthoritiesreturnedaround10,000IDPsfromMeddaWelabutoKersaDulaworeda(Somali).Inamatterofdays,intercommunalfightingbrokeoutbetweenhostcommunitiesandreturnedIDPs,causingcausalitiesandpushingIDPstomovebacktoBale,wheretheyencounteredoldIDPsitesdemolishedandsettledinsomepublicspaces.IDPs(especiallywomenandchildren)re-portedlylostalltheirbelongingsduringthemoveandremainindesperateneedoffood,healthandNFIs.Reportedly,thereturnprocesswas conducted without due consultation with the communities and very limited involvement and coordination with partners and author-itiesontheSomaliside.IDPshadexpressedearliertheirreluctancetoreturnduetoresidualtensionswithSomalicommunities. Atthe
timeofwriting,IDPsremainshelteredinschoolsandotherpublicbuildingsinMeddaandBidiretowns.Reportedly,around30,000IDPsremainindireneedoffood,including20,000IDPsinMeddaWelabuwhohavenotreceivedfoodforthelastfourmonths.Authoritiesare determined to continue returning IDPs despite the risk of inter-community violence and COVID-19, and the very limited assistance available.Further,authoritiescontinuetodenyaccesstopartnerstoassessandrespondtothemosturgentneeds.
In new East Bale zone(recentlysplitfromBale),emergencyfooddistributionscontinuetobemostlysuspendedasaresultofinse-curity,affecting35,000IDPs(12,500inLegaHidha,7,500inDaweKachen,6,500inDaweSerer,6,500inSawena,1,600inRayitu).InsecuritycontinuestoaffectaccesstoIDPsinhard-to-reachareas,forinstance6,500IDPsinDaweSererworeda have only received onefoodrationforthepasteightmonths.Otherwise,remoteIDPsitesinDaweKechen,SewenaandDelloMenaworedas remained inaccessible through June due to damages in roads caused by heavy rains.
Western Oromia (Wellegas) – Benishangul Gumuz region, BGR (Kamashi zone)
ThespiralofviolenceinWesternOromiacontinues,withconflictdynamicsworseningsinceApril.Thepopulationistrappedintheviolence, and partners’ operations are most of the time halted leaving thousands without aid. Clashes are reported almost on a daily basis,havingreachedurbanareassuchasNekemtetowninEastWellegaandGimbitowninWestWellega,andincludedanincreasednumberofarmedattacksbyUAGsonvehicles.Dozensofcasualtieshavebeenreportedamidstallegationsofgravehumanrightsviolations,norleastincreasedtargetedkillingsandabductionsbyUAGs.
Humanitarianpartnershavenotbeendirectlytargeted.However,ongoingUAGattacksonvehiclesincreasetheriskofbeingmisiden-tifiedandmistakenlytargeted,orofbeingcaughtupascollateraldamage.WhilemovementsfromNekemte-Gimbi-Assossaarecleared,thesituationindeepfieldlocationsremainsextremelyvolatilehinderingpartners’movementandoperations.InAprilandMay,variousUAGattackstovehiclesandtoaclearlymarkedambulanceleftanumberofcasualties,includingtwominors,tworeligiousleaders,andfourgovernmentofficialswhowerereturningfromdistributingfertilizerstoIDPs.InJune,aweek-longmarketstrikeinNekemtetown,increasedtensionsandpressureonthecommunitygiventhestand-offbetweensecurityforcesandtheUAGbehindthestrike. These incidents illustrate the complexity and dangerous operational environment for humanitarians in the sub-region.
