USG Humanitarian Assistance Team in Ethiopia

January 3, 2008
No. 01/08

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- In coordination with the Ethiopian Government, a U.S. Government Humanitarian Assistance Team arrived in Ethiopia on December 20 to assess humanitarian conditions and needs within the conflict-affected zones of the Somali Region and surrounding areas.  The team, composed of technical experts from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will conduct multiple field assessments in Somali Region in the coming weeks.  On December 27, team members began an initial four-day assessment in Jijiga and Degehabur zones.

The USG Humanitarian Assistance Team is in Ethiopia to examine health, nutrition, food security, and water and sanitation conditions and livelihoods issues in Somali Region in order to provide an impartial assessment of the current humanitarian situation and facilitate appropriate response efforts.  The team, which was first proposed by the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore to Prime Minister Meles on December 4, has the approval of the Ethiopian Government and was welcomed by Somali Region President Ato Abdulahi Hassen.

In fiscal year 2007 and to date in fiscal year 2008, the United States has provided affected populations in Somali Region with nearly $39.5 million in emergency assistance, including 58,150 metric tons of emergency food assistance.  At present, the United States is supporting programs in nutrition, health, agriculture, food security, logistics, and humanitarian coordination in Somali Region.

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