Refugee Surge, Funding Cuts Bog Gambella Down

Humanitarian funding cuts could herald a crisis in Gambella Regional State, where the arrival of tens of thousands of people fleeing conflict in neighboring South Sudan and a concurrent cholera epidemic add to issues with overcrowding and dwindling supplies in refugee camps across the region.

With an estimated 400,000 South Sudanese refugees residing in camps established over three decades ago, Gambella houses the largest number of refugees of any region in Ethiopia, and now finds itself at the epicenter of a mounting humanitarian crisis.

A report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicates that many of its partners have suspended their activities in Gambella, adding to the concerns posed by dwindling resources and escalating health concerns in the region.

‎“All services provided by UNHCR and its partners and other humanitarian actors will unfortunately be impacted by the funding cuts,” it reads. “Many partners had to, or will have to, suspend their activities, including nutrition, water and sanitation, education, school feeding programmes, and the distribution of medicines and items of first necessity like dignity kits for women in the camps”.

Other reports indicate that the effects of the funding shortfalls are already noticeable in Gambella’s camps, which are also struggling to contain a cholera outbreak. The regional health bureau reported over 1,300 cases and 29 deaths between February and March, while reports from other actors indicate the epidemic is still ongoing.

– Advertisement –

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recently warned that a humanitarian crisis is rapidly unfolding on both sides of the South Sudan–Ethiopia border, as escalating violence, displacement and a widespread cholera outbreak are pushing communities to the brink.

The influx of refugees, some arriving with injuries from the conflict in South Sudan, has overwhelmed local health facilities. MSF and the Gambella regional administration remain the primary responders, providing medical treatment and working to contain the spread of the disease.

“The displaced people are arriving in Gambella with little more than what they can carry,” said Joshua Eckley, MSF’s head of mission in Ethiopia, in a recent statement published by the humanitarian news aggregator site, ReliefWeb.

“Our teams are responding to the cholera outbreak and providing care to those arriving exhausted and in poor condition. There are significant needs, and without additional support, the situation could worsen.”

The crisis comes at a time when South Sudan and Ethiopia are facing major reductions in donor funding, including the recent USAID cuts.

UNHCR says it is assessing the impact of funding cuts on its programs across the country. The agency emphasizes the need to maintain life-saving services for refugees and advocates for increased support from partners, donors, and the international community to bridge funding gaps.

Reports indicate the UN agency, in collaboration with the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), local authorities, and humanitarian actors, has conducted border monitoring missions to assess urgent needs and coordinate responses.

While containing the cholera outbreak remains a top priority, the agency emphasizes that a comprehensive and coordinated approach is essential to address the broader needs of the refugee population.

Ethiopia, Africa’s third-largest refugee-hosting nation, is home to nearly 1.1 million refugees, even as it faces its own socio-economic challenges. The country has consistently provided sanctuary to people fleeing conflicts in South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan.

Roughly 15 percent of these refugees reside in urban areas, while the majority live in camps and settlements near the borders—many alongside an estimated 1.6 million members of the host community who also require humanitarian support.

A recent World Food Program (WFP) report highlighted that refugees in Ethiopia are receiving only 60 percent of the standard food ration, a significant decrease attributed to global funding diversions to crises elsewhere. This reduction has led to increased malnutrition rates, particularly among children and mothers, who constitute up to 80 percent of the refugee population.