IHP supports UN operations in Ethiopia

Hunger in the Horn of Africa is causing the UN to extend its relief efforts in Ethiopia. The UN World Food Programme has requested support from IHP to set up an accommodation and office compound in the UN headquarters in the southern part of the country.

Therefore, IHP will support the UN with office facilities for about 15 relief workers as well as expertise in the field. Several IHP countries are currently preparing the mission, which is a cooperation between Sweden, Finland and Denmark.The IHP mission is expected to arrive in Ethiopia within 1-2 weeks and will be placed in the small Ethiopian town of Dolo Ado on the border between Ethiopia and Somalia, near Kenya, where approximately 2000 refugees arrive every day.

Acting chairman of the IHP, Nicolai Rauhe Kristensen, says:
“In the light of the current Crisis in the Horn of Africa, IHP is grateful to be able to help the humanitarian community in its response to the situation. As Dolo Ado is a remote location, it can be difficult to help others if you only have a tent in the middle of the desert to work from. However, it is one of IHP’s core tasks to be able to quickly set up a functional office and accommodation unit”

Background
Severe drought is causing famine in The Horn of Africa. 2011 was recently reported the driest year in the region since 1950. More than 11 million people from Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti are in urgent need of food, water and shelter. In Ethiopia the government has estimated that 4.5 million, people are in need of humanitarian aid due to drought alone. UN is currently extending its relief efforts in the entire region.