Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic report taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic - A large number of people have been displaced from Raya Alamata and other woredas
April 22, 2024 (Miyazia 14, 2016 EC)
The recent collapse in peace in Raya Alamata and the wider area has resulted in displacement of residents who are not receiving humanitarian assistance outside of assistance provided by the local community.
Over 39,000 displaced persons have been registered in a makeshift shelter setup in Kobo city in North Wollo Zone and another 8,000 displaced persons have taken shelter in a school in Hamusit in Wag Hemra Zone. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has indicated more than 29,000 people have been displaced from Raya Alamata and the surrounding area.
One of the displaced persons in a shelter in Kobo city in North Wollo Zone told Deutsche Welle they are not receiving any humanitarian assistance from any organizations. They added that local residents gathered flour but it was ruined by recent rainfall in the area.
Another displaced person in the shelter said “we are being struck by heavy rains, we are not receiving sufficient support and assistance.”
Persons displaced from the Bala, Ofla, Alamata and Korem areas have also taken refuge in a school located in a town called Hamusit in Wag Hemra Zone and one of the displaced residents told Deutsche Welle they had called on the local administration to provide them assistance as over 8,000 displaced persons have taken refuge in a single school.
The North Wollo Zone Emergency Prevention and Food Security Office worker Ato Indris Ahmed explained that more than 39,600 people had been displaced from 6 woredas in the Raya Alamata area to Kobo. Since the displaced persons reached Kobo near the beginning of last week they have not received any humanitarian assistance according to Ato Indris.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently issued a statement that more than 29,000 people had been displaced from the Raya Alamata area and surrounding areas. The office stated the displaced persons were in Sekota and Kobo cities. OCHA in its statement indicated the displaced persons were suffering from lack of clean drinkable water, food and shelter problems, and added all encompassing support is needed since the displaced persons are only receiving support from the local community.
Efforts to contact the zonal administration for further information were not successful as they did not answer their phone. Ato Indris called on nation level assistance providers, international charity organizations, governmental and nongovernmental organizations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons without delay.
Repeated efforts to contact Amhara Region Emergency Prevention and Food Security Coordinator Commissioner Deacon Tesfahun Batabel for comment were unsuccessful.
Alemnew Mekonnen
Lidet Abebe
Azeb Tadesse
