Despite severe resource constraints and operational difficulties, including active clashes in some pocket areas, the Ethiopian government and humanitarian donors are stepping up life-saving efforts in the most affected areas, according to the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator issued a joint statement on current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia today.

The statement noted over three rounds of food distributions at least once between July and December 2023; between May and November, the Ethiopian government reached at least 7.3 million people.

Close to 4 million people in drought-affected regions, including Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, Southern, and Southwest, require urgent food assistance, according to the Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission and the Food Cluster.

Since mid-December, with the resumption of WFP and CRS/JEOP food assistan
ce, partners have provided food aid to approximately 6.5 million people in the Amhara, Tigray, Somali, and Afar regions, it said.

It added that redoubling such efforts with the highest sense of urgency is necessary to address the current challenging humanitarian situation.

All efforts are underway to reach out to the prioritized beneficiaries in the month of January 2024, it said.

‘Donors must frontload funding to scale up the response this January. Timely responding by enhancing financial support for humanitarian operations is critically imperative to make meaningful and lifesaving interventions in all affected regions,’ it stressed.

According to the statement, the Ethiopian government and bilateral and multilateral development partners in close collaboration and coordination have been accelerating agricultural and food security, humanitarian programs in line with national development priorities and needs.

While these endeavors have brought tangible results in enhancing production and productivity; recu
rrent droughts would require sustained commitment and partnership from all actors to address major humanitarian situation due to cycles of multiple, often overlapping crises, which severely weakens communities’ ability to cope, it said.

An integrated multi-sectoral humanitarian response is urgently needed in drought-affected regions to avert compounding situations, it said.

Humanitarians and government operators are on the ground and have the necessary experience, expertise, and established structures and they are ready to deliver.

The overlap of acute food insecurity, high malnutrition rates, severe water scarcity coupled with a surge in disease outbreaks (malaria, measles, and cholera), and livestock impacts are worsening the situation in drought-affected regions.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

WINDHOEK: Two male Congolese suspects who were allegedly found in possession of cannabis were denied bail when they made their first appearance in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Bwanga Bonifus and Simba Gabriel were allegedly found in possession of 18 610 grams of cannabis valued at N.dollars 930 500 on Monday and were charged with dealing in and possession of cannabis.

State Prosecutor Kasale Kasale objected to the granting of bail on the grounds that investigations are still in the early stages, the value of the drugs involved was high and that the suspects pose a flight risk.

‘On Monday, at around 01h00 in Winnie Madikizela Mandela Street, Otjomuise, a stop and search on vehicles was conducted and 18 610 grams of skunk cannabis was confiscated,’ the spokesperson of the Namibian Police Force in Khomas, Warrant Silas Shipandeni said on Monday.

Presiding Magistrate Wilka Amalwa postponed the matter to 26 February 2024 for further police investigations. The suspects have both instructed Windho
ek-based Lawyer Mbanga Siyomundji to represent them.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency