Canadian aid agencies suspend activity in Ethiopia

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This article was published 06/11/2021 (1761 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

International relief agencies based in Winnipeg are concerned about escalating humanitarian needs as the conflict in Ethiopia worsens.

Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Canadian Lutheran World Relief and Canadian Foodgrains Bank have paused their programs and are monitoring Ethiopia because of the unpredictable situation.

“Millions of people are at risk of hunger,” said Tyler Braun, a program manager at Lutheran World Relief. “The food insecurity is huge.”

The food crisis is the result of fighting in the past year between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which rules that country’s northern region.

The conflict has affected the food situation in Tigray and the nearby Afar and Amhara regions.

Initially the conflict was confined to the north, but Trigrayan forces recently began to close in on the capital city of Addis Ababa, located in the central part of Ethiopia.

It is estimated more than 100,000 have died amid reports of massacres, sexual violence and other atrocities committed by all sides. The Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency Nov. 2.

Lutheran food programs in the Amhara and Tigray regions have been put on hold due to the fighting, Braun said, adding there are no Canadian staff members in the country.

“We will go back when it is safe to do so,” he said, adding local staff report there fear and uncertainty.

“The situation is highly unpredictable,” he said, noting the rebel forces are moving so quickly plans change daily.

“It is difficult to know now what is safe and what isn’t.”

Laura Kalmar of MCC said instability, closed roads and blocked communications make operating in Ethiopia difficult.

“We have suspended activities in the affected areas,” she said of emergency responses the organization had planned.

The situation underscores the negative effect the conflict has on food security, she said.

“It makes vulnerable people even more vulnerable,” Kalmar said.

Although MCC has no Canadian staff in the country, the situation underscores the risks faced by humanitarian organizations when fighting erupts.

“We are constantly evaluating the security situation in places like Ethiopia,” she said.

Grant Hillier of the foodgrains bank said two food projects the organization supported in the areas affected by fighting had recently been completed.

Until the situation calms down, no new projects are planned, said Hillier.

“We are taking a wait-and-see approach,” he said, adding his organization has no staff in Ethiopia.

“The needs are massive,” he said, adding it is hard to get good information since aid organizations can’t access the areas of greatest need.

“We hope food aid won’t end up being used as a tool in the crisis by any of the sides in the conflict.”

All three organizations ask Canadians to pray for an end to the conflict and to donate money to help people affected by the crisis.

“Donations given now will help us when we can once again respond,” said Braun.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca

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