Tigray Crisis
Millions of people in Ethiopia's Tigray region are suffering in the midst of a violent crisis. Humanity & Inclusion teams are on-site providing aid and support to those most affected.
The humanitarian crisis is worsening each day in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. People are facing death, injury and trauma. Women and children are reporting instances of violent sexual assault. Health facilities, schools and other public infrastructure have been destroyed, looted or are being used as shelter for internally displaced persons.
When natural and civil disasters strike, Humanity & Inclusion has to act fast. With their regular gifts, our first responders make that possible.
Please become a monthly donor today.
Humanity & Inclusion in Ethiopia
Humanity & Inclusion has been working in Ethiopia since 1986, with a mission to improve access to humanitarian services for people with disabilities, ensure children with disabilities can go to school and adults with disabilities are able to work, and that they are included in their communities.
Ethiopia has nearly 115 million inhabitants and sees a constant influx of refugees whose essential needs are barely met. The country hosts people displaced by cross-border movements due to drought, conflict, political upheaval and civil wars in neighboring countries including Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan. There are also large numbers of internally displaced persons, forced to move due to drought and conflict.
Ethiopia has long been considered as a stable country, but a conflict between Tigrayan forces and the central government has been ongoing since 2020. Previously, two decades of deadly conflict in the southeastern region of Ogaden had a severe impact on the Ethiopian ethnic Somali population. Ethiopia periodically faces terrible droughts, leading to increased needs for humanitarian aid.
Over the last 15 years, Ethiopia has undergone significant economic and social changes and has recorded some of the highest growth rates in the world. However, health services are limited, notably those dedicated to people with disabilities. Ethiopia is also one of the Sub-Saharan African countries the worst affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Areas of intervention
- Rehabilitation
- Health and prevention
- Mental health and psychosocial support
- Maternal and infant health
- Inclusive education
- Economic inclusion
- Social inclusion
- Protection and risk reduction
Humanity & Inclusion's 92 staff members in Ethiopia are currently working to improve living conditions of people with disabilities and to ensure inclusion of refugees and internally displaced families. For example, the organization provides stimulation physical therapy for young children facing malnourishment in refugee camps, to help their growth and reduce the risk of developmental delay.
Staff also provides protection assistance and community-level support, including psychosocial services, to refugees, conflict-affected communities, people with specific needs and children. In the Tigray region, Humanity & Inclusion provides risk education activities and support to victims of armed violence.
Our Past Work
Humanity & Inclusion has been in Ethiopia since 1986, fostering an inclusive culture for ALL people with disabilities and who are living in situations of extreme circumstances. Over time, we have evolved our work to meet the dynamic needs of the communities where we serve.
Read on to learn more about our past work in Ethiopia and consider investing in our future.
HIV & Disability
Humanity & Inclusion implemented a pilot project in Addis Ababa that ensures that people with disabilities across Ethiopia have access to HIV information and services tailored to their diverse needs and equal to the services available to others in the community.
Rehabilitation
Humanity & Inclusion's early work in Ethiopia revolved around providing rehabilitation services for refugees in the Somali region, leading to rehabilitation units in 11 hospitals from 1996 to 2000.
Mine action
In 1997, teams launched a mine risk education project to support Somali refugees living in Ethiopia.
Climate change
Humanity & Inclusion started the REAAP Project (Resilience through Enhanced Adaptation, Action-learning and Partnership) to sustainably increase the resilience of rural communities to current and future climate change and natural disasters and ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are taken into account. The project raised awareness about the inclusion of people with disabilities in climate change actions, trained people with disabilities on how to response during a natural disaster, and distributed mobility aids to people who needed them.
