ERCS Provides More Than Half a Billion Birr in Humanitarian Assistance Over the Past Two Years
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) held a two-day lesson learned workshop on the disaster preparedness and response activities carried out following the landslides and floods that affected West Hararge in Oromia, Gofa and Wolayta Zones in Southern Ethiopia, and Silte Zone in the Central Ethiopia regions by the Ethiopia Landslide and Flood Appeal Project, in Arbaminch town..
Delivering the welcoming remarks, Head of ERCS Southern Ethiopia Regional Branch Office, Ato Amanuel Ayza, stated that the forum serves as a valuable platform for regions to learn from one another’s experiences and inspire continued humanitarian action. He also noted that the landslide disaster in Gamo Zone would serve as the starting point for a new project set to be launched soon.
Opening the forum, ERCS Director of Disaster Preparedness and Response, Ato Mohammed Dada, highlighted that over the past two years, more than half a billion birr in humanitarian assistance has been mobilized through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), sister National Societies, and partner organizations.
He further explained that the support included the construction of more than 406 houses for displaced communities in the affected regions and zones, along with the provision of quality seeds, fertilizers, cash assistance for various services, and other essential relief items.
Facilitator of the forum and Senior Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Expert at the IFRC Ethiopia and Djibouti Cluster Delegation, Ato Daniel Abdulaziz, noted that natural disasters occur unexpectedly and therefore require constant preparedness. He added that the Federation has been working closely with ERCS and has implemented many impactful humanitarian interventions over the past two years.
The forum was attended by regional and zonal branch heads of the Society, as well as government officials responsible for disaster risk management and response. Participants expressed that they gained valuable knowledge and practical experience from the consultation.
The Gamo Zone Branch Office is among those implementing the new project. Head of the Branch Office, Ato Sileshi Sisay, said the experience shared during the forum would help strengthen their future interventions and improve service delivery.
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