According to IOM’s National Displacement Report, a total of 1,642,458 Ethiopians were internally displaced in July 2019 (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 4; figure includes climate-induced, conflict-induced and other displacement). Numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs) have decreased significantly since they had reached a peak in the period from January to April 2019 with more than 3 million Ethiopians internally displaced (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 5). Already in 2018, numbers of IDPs had increased significantly. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), in 2018 Ethiopia was the country with “the highest number of new displacements related to conflict and violence in the world”. In comparison to 2017, the number of displaced people had increased fourfold, as “violence in the country significantly increased and spread to new areas” (IDMC, May 2019, p. 1).
The largest number of IDPs are hosted in the southeastern part of the country by the federal states of Oromia and Somali, with over 828,000 living in Somali state and more than 555,000 in Oromia (IOM, 22 October 2019, pp. 9-10). The IDP caseload in other states is far smaller with approximately 106,000 IDPs in Tigray, around 63,000 in Amhara and approximately 53,000 displaced people in Afar (IOM, 22 October 2019, pp. 6-11).
Source: IOM, May 2019, p. 13
139 The highest share of displaced persons in Ethiopia are conflict affected IDPs, accounting for approximately 66% of all cases of displacement (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 2).
The gravest tensions and conflicts in 2018 occurred
- in the Gedeo/West Guji communal conflict in the border region of Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s (SNNP) state - having caused an estimated 748,000 IDPs by August 2018 (IOM, 22 October 2019)-,
- in the border region of Benishangul-Gumuz state and Oromias East- and West-Wollega zones,
- along the border between Somali state and Oromia (UNOCHA, 13 June 2019; IOM, May 2019, p. 4; IDMC, May 2019, p. 1),
- within Benishangul-Gumuz region violence broke out between Oromos, Amharas and Gumuz (IDMC, May 2019, p. 1)
IDMC briefly summarises the major internal conflicts:
“Inter-communal violence, which broke out in the West Guji zone of Oromia and Gedeo zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s region (SNNP) in April [2018] and again in June [2018] triggered the highest levels of displacement. The precise causes for the clashes are still relatively unclear, given the magnitude of the violence, but underlying drivers include ethnic tensions and competition over scarce resources. This conflict left more than one million people displaced in dire conditions, struggling to find space in overcrowded collective centres (e.g. schools, churches, etc.). The latest outbreak of violence and displacement along the border between the Somali and Oromia regions, which began in December 2016, continued and led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in 2018. The Somali regional capital, Jijiga, a previously calm and vibrant city, came under attack in August. The fighting that ensued led to the displacement of 140,000 people in only a few days. Ethnic violence broke out between Oromos, Amharas and Gumuz in the Benighangul-Gumuz region in October 2018, following the killing of three zonal police officers. At least 250,000 new displacements were recorded in only eight weeks.” (IDMC, May 2019, p. 1)
The remaining IDPS, who are not victims of conflict but of natural disasters, have fled, above all, from droughts, but also from floods. Droughts and seasonal floods are responsible for approximately 500,000 IDPs in Ethiopia (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 2) of which 350,000 reside in Somali state (RI, 12 September 2019, p. 4).
Based on different sources Refugees International and UNOCHA describe Ethiopia’s climatic vulnerabilities as follows:
“Eighty percent of the population relies on rain-fed agriculture for its livelihood, and a third of the population is food insecure. [...] The country experiences frequent, sometimes severe droughts, as well as seasonal flooding, which disrupt food production, worsen food insecurity, and lead to displacement. This highly variable climate system and the underlying vulnerability of Ethiopia’s population make them vulnerable to natural hazards and the effects of climate change. In 2015–2016, Ethiopia suffered one of its worst droughts in 50 years, caused in part by El Niño climatic changes. The impacts were compounded by
below-average rainfall in 2016 and 2017, which primarily affected the south and southeastern parts of the country. The protracted nature of the droughts, followed by severe flooding in parts of the country in 2018, left many households unable to recover. Millions of people continue to require humanitarian support in the face of high levels of food insecurity, and approximately 508,000 people remain displaced by climate-related causes such as droughts.” (RI, 12 September 2019, p. 6)
“Regions continue to report incidences of flooding which is affecting the lives and livelihood of communities and causing displacement in several woredas. Official request from Afar, Amhara, Oromia and SNNP regions indicate that flood has affected and displaced nearly 30,000 people.” (UNOCHA, 15 September 2019, p. 5)
Concerning climate, 2018 was a year with overall good seasonal rains, and humanitarian needs from direct drought impact decreased. The big increase in numbers of IDPs in 2018 was due to inter-communal violence (UNOCHA, 15 March 2019, p. 1).
For 2019, the East Africa Monitor in a September 2019 article states that “Ethiopia’s attorney general’s office says ethnic violence over the past 12 months has killed at least 1,200 people and displaced a further 1.2 million from their homes” (East Africa Monitor, 29 September 2019).
According to IOM almost 90 percent of IDPs in Ethiopia live in rural areas, of which 76 percent live in camps and 24 percent with host communities. This ratio is different in the urban context, where 46 percent live in camps and 54 percent in host communities. (IOM, May 2019, p. 16)
Source: IOM, May 2019, p. 17
In its October 2019 report, IOM describes the situation of accessibility of water and food for 1,163 covered sites across Ethiopia as follows:
141
“The main water distribution point for most sites (403 sites) was on-site and within a 20-minute walk for a one-way journey. In 338 sites, the main water distribution point was on-site but required more than a 20-minute walk to reach. Significantly, there are 294 on-sites where IDPs have to walk off-site for more than 20 minutes to reach the main water distribution points. Once at the water distribution point, IDPs queue for an average of 16-30 minutes in 436 sites — this is the most common waiting time. In 234 sites, IDPs have to queue for over an hour and in 192 sites, IDPs queue for 31-60 minutes for water.” (IOM, 22 October 2019, pp. 15-16)
“Out of the 1,163 sites covered, a total of 532 sites (45.7%) have access to food on-site and 488 sites (41.9%) have access to food off-site. However, 143 sites (12.3%) reported having no access to food. As visible through the map, the region in which this is most prominent is Somali with 95 sites having no access to food. […] The main source for obtaining food is through food assistance, as reported in 694 sites (59.7%). The second main source for obtaining food is via other means in 271 sites (23.3%), while 96 sites (8.3%) resorted to host community donations.” (IOM, 22 October 2019, pp. 16-17)
Concerning access to health care, IOM found that in more than 13 percent of all sites IDPs report to have no access to health facilities, mainly in Somali state, but as well in the state of Oromia. Primary education for displaced children is reported to be available in 83 percent of the 1,163 sites covered by the IOM assessment. The situation of pre-primary and secondary education is much worse with only approximately 20 percent of the sites offering pre-primary education and 25% making secondary education available (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 19). In view of security, the most commonly reported incidents were gender-based violence against women in 112 sites and frictions between the IDP and the host communities in 82 of 1,163 sites (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 21).
Situation of IDPs in Somali state
In November and December 2018, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) visited six IDP sites in Somali states’ Fafan Zone, where 37 IDP sites are located (DRC, 15 August 2019, p. 4). The findings provide an insight to the protection environment and the basic needs of IDPs living in those sites:
“[…] in terms of basic needs and access to services all the sites reported issues in accessing food, with food not being provided on a consistent basis or not delivered at all. When food is distributed, the amount is not sufficient to cover the needs of the entire household. IDPs in the majority of the sites are dependent on the host community for food and shelter or they are highly dependent on humanitarian assistance in the case of Qoloji. Even though the 2 communities share resources, the relationship among them has been reported as
‘good’ or ‘excellent’ in the majority of the sites.
[…] Shelters have been prioritized as a need since IDPs either have temporary shelters that don’t protect them from the weather conditions or share shelters among them or with the host community. Some sites reported women being without a shelter that in turn could pose significant protection concerns. With the exception of Qoloji where water has been
provided on site in a safe and accessible area for all, the rest of the sites don’t have access to sufficient and clean water. IDPs have to travel a minimum of 3km to access the closest water source […] and the situation in terms of sanitation, with total lack of sanitation facilities, imposes serious health concerns.
Access to health services is challenging in all sites, except Qoloji [...]. With the exception of Masle IDP site, the local authorities registered the IDPs upon arrival but without providing any documentation.
Across all sites, IDPs have been reporting the almost complete absence of any civil documentation without though to be very clear if they obtained any documents before displacement. The lack of civil documentation though doesn’t appear to have implications in regards to freedom of movement or safety with all IDP participants reporting that they can move freely inside or outside the sites. Even though initially IDPs reported feeling safe in site, it appears that lack of light at night as well as the vicinity to the regional borders are affecting the feeling of safety with limited movements during the night.
In regards to GBV, existence of domestic violence and early marriage has been reported in all sites. Even though early marriage is a cultural practice in Somali region, it was further aggravated by displacement and it was reported additionally as a coping mechanism adapted by the communities. Child labor has been reported as a concern in some of the IDP sites while in regards to separated children, traditional practices and more specifically unofficial caring arrangements have been reported as the main protective mechanism for those children. Additionally, there seems to be a reduction in school attendance for children following the displacement. More specifically, for girls, early marriage and household responsibilities seem to be the main reason for not attending school but lack of female teachers as well as the cultural perceptions around access to education for girls present also obstacles in their enrolment and attendance. Lastly, in all sites, women, elderly and single-headed households have been identified as the most vulnerable and in need of assistance.” (DRC, 15 August 2019, pp. 22-23)
IOM states that “51-75% of IDP households in 168 sites in Somali are living in shelters that are below standard” (IOM, 11 October 2019, p. 14).
Situation of IDPs of Gedeo/West Guji conflict (SNNPR state and Oromia)
Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) in an April 2019 press release expresses its concern about the situation of IDPs in southern Ethiopia, especially on “alarming findings about their nutritional status, poor living conditions and limited availability of safe drinking water” (MSF, 17 April 2019).
The New Humanitarian (TNH) writes in a February 2019 article about IDPs in the village of Gotiti, in the Gedeo district of the SNNP region bordering Oromia, where an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 IDPs took refuge. Their shelters are without roofs and sanitations and the Ethiopian government has not formally acknowledged Gotiti’s inhabitants as IDPs eligible for humanitarian aid (TNH, 28 February 2019).
143 UNOCHA describes the situation of those IDPs as follows:
“At least 690,364 people were displaced by the Gedeo/West Guji communal conflict since April 2018, including 374,872 in Gedeo and 315,492 in West Guji. While the large majority of the IDPs have been living with host communities, only 21 per cent have been living in 94 collective centers/camps (92,939 IDPs in Gedeo and 54,078 in West Guji). The living condition of the already vulnerable host communities has deteriorated having shared their limited resources with the IDPs for over a year.” (UNOCHA, 13 June 2019, p. 2)
“As of 22 May, Gedeo zonal government reports indicate that some 320,000 IDPs have returned from Gedeo to West Guji zone, the majority from Gedeb woreda, while nearly 20,000 IDPs have returned from West Guji to Gedeo zone.” (UNOCHA, 13 June 2019, p. 2) About the overall IDP housing situation in Oromia, IOM states that “51-75% of IDP households in 41 sites in Oromia are living in below standard shelters, while IDP households in 185 sites in Oromia live in shelters that meet standards” (IOM, 22 October 2019, p. 14).
Situation of IDPs in Amhara region
UNOCHA describes the situation of IDPs in Amhara region as follows:
“The majority of the IDPs (70 per cent) are living with host communities, and the rest are living in temporary, sub-standard settlement sites and require shelter and non-food item support. Some woredas are providing medical services to IDPs and there are facilities close to the IDP sites that provide nutrition services, but their capacity is highly limited. The risk of outbreak of communicable diseases is very high given the shortage of safe drinking water reported in most collective sites, the poor personal hygiene and latrine management and open defecation, coupled with poor nutritional status of the population and the sub-standard shelter condition. The overcrowded and poor living conditions also present protection risks, especially for women and girls. IDP children also don’t have access to education in most collective settlement sites. The most pressing needs articulated by IDPs is security and protection, followed by life-saving and livelihood support in the areas of shelter and household items.” (UNOCHA, 13 June 2019, p. 6)
Situation of IDPs in Tigray region
As in Amhara, UNOCHA found the majority of IDPs in Tigray state living with the host community:
“Although this living arrangement is better than living in camp settings, without adequate and inclusive rehabilitation assistance, it puts a strain on the livelihood of vulnerable community members. At least 27 per cent of the population in the region fall under the poor and very poor category. Overall, the IDPs in Tigray region have not received due attention for assistance. Food assistance to the IDPs has been irregular and only 13 per cent of the IDPs have received essential non-food items support since 2016.” (UNOCHA, 13 June 2019, p. 6)