Flüchtlingsfamilie in Kombolcha: Mütter mit Kindern sitzen auf einer Bank

Emergency aid for war refugees in Ethiopia

Kombolcha – Emergency Aid

Project goal

In the town of Kombolcha, we saved 4,614 war refugees from starvation and deprivation. The small children in particular needed urgent help to avoid developmental damage. That is why we brought trucks with emergency aid to the needy in the town.

Landkarte von Äthiopien mit Markierung bei Kombolcha (Norden)

The project

Together with our local partners from the non-governmental organization "Support for Sustainable Development" (SSD), we procured and distributed 2,853 emergency aid packages to 951 families. The distribution took place in coordination with a "task force" of the local authorities. A total of around 4,614 people benefited from the campaign, including many small children. Initially, three emergency aid distributions were carried out: In October, November and December 2021, the families each received around 73 kilograms of maize flour, two liters of cooking oil, as well as soap, detergent and cooking utensils in the middle of the month. The women also received washable sanitary pads.

Project information

  • Activities:
    • procurement of relief supplies
    • Transport of goods to the city of Kombolcha
    • distribution of relief supplies to families
    • follow-up of the situation
  • Target group: 4614 internally displaced persons
  • Region: Kombolcha, South Wollo, Amhara
  • Partner: SSD
  • Duration: Oct. to Dec. 2021

The problem

In every war, the innocent civilian population suffered the most: poor families fell victim to the fighting between the Ethiopian army and the "Tigray People's Liberation Front" (TPLF). Their fighters marched into parts of the neighboring region of Amhara. As a result, many families fled their villages. Around 15,500 internally displaced people were stranded in the town of Kombolcha. Two thirds of them had found shelter with the local population. The rest were housed in eight schools with extremely cramped conditions. Each classroom housed 25 to 35 people from five to seven families, with no privacy at all. At first, the refugees were cared for by the generous citizens of the town. But their resources were used up. The youngest children in particular were at risk of malnutrition and health problems.

Kriegsflüchtlinge in Kombolcha: Kinder mit Müttern in einer dunklen Unterkunft

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

With the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations has formulated 17 goals for sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a roadmap for the future that enables a dignified life while preserving the natural foundations of life. With this project, we have contributed to achieving the following goals:

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