UK announces $125M aid package for Ethiopia as humanitarian crisis deepens

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The UK pledged £100 million ($125 million) in new aid on Monday to provide life-saving assistance to more than three million Ethiopians in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the East African country.

The announcement was made by the UK’s Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, following a two-day visit to Ethiopia, where he outlined a comprehensive plan to address the deepening crisis.

"Millions are trapped in displacement, hunger and need. As ever, the most vulnerable people, particularly women and children, are the first to be hit," said Mitchell.

"The crisis is a wake-up call to the world. Food shortages are at a critical level," he added, noting that the number of critically food-insecure people is projected to reach 10.8 million in the coming months.

The aid package aims to target vulnerable groups, particularly children under the age of five and pregnant and post-natal women.

The program seeks to improve access to essential health services for over 3 million Ethiopians, with a primary focus on women and children.

The UK noted that aside from providing food, the funding will contribute to enhanced family planning support, the provision of medicines and childhood vaccinations.

The emergency funding from the UK will also assist 75 health centers in addressing malnutrition and other preventable causes of death, including malaria and cholera.

The announcement comes as millions of people across northern Ethiopia are grappling with hunger, exacerbated by conflict and climate change, resulting in failed harvests and mass displacement.