Recommendations for addressing drought displacement in Ethiopia

This paper summarises challenges associated with drought displacement in the Somali region of Ethiopia, and recommendations to achieve durable solutions. Based on a workshop with key humanitarian actors in the region, in partnership with NRC, the recovery of livelihoods (or the generation of new ones) emerged as the cornerstone on which to build the future for displaced Ethiopians.

Four challenges were discussed during the workshop and are analysed in this brief:

1. Loss of livestock as a result of drought can make pastoralism unsustainable, leading to displacement;
2. People displaced by drought live in protracted displacement in temporary shelters, dependent on decreasing amounts of humanitarian assistance;
3. Loss of livestock and the ability to access services in host communities leads to a preference for local integration among IDPs, but there are few opportunities for self-reliance;
4. In areas experiencing water shortages, IDPs put pressure on overstretched water infrastructure, contributing to water insecurity.