UNITED NATIONS, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) released on Thursday 15 million U.S. dollars to urgently scale up humanitarian assistance to people affected by escalating inter-communal violence in Ethiopia.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that while new measures to bring unity and reconciliation under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have spurred great enthusiasm, the impact of inter-communal tensions presents a challenge for the new leadership.
Nearly 1 million people are displaced and require urgent help, especially during this rainy season. It is critical to act immediately, the secretary-general added.
CERF's allocation will enable humanitarian partners to scale up life-saving assistance in support of the government-led response. More than 36,600 people will receive urgent nutrition assistance, some 600,000 people will be supported with water, sanitation and hygiene service, 71,200 households will receive non-food item kits and 175,000 people will benefit from healthcare service.
