Stories of Resilience from Afar’s Displaced Communities
Afar Regional State is located in the northeastern part of Ethiopia, with an estimated population of 2 million. The people of Afar subsistence economy depend on livestock, especially goats, some camels, and, more rarely, cattle.
The region is highly susceptible to repeated disasters, ranging from communal conflicts to natural hazards like droughts, floods, desert locust outbreaks, and intense windstorms. The impacts of climate change have further escalated the frequency and intensity of these events, increasing the risk of displacement in this delicate pastoralist lowland area.
For the past 5-6 years, the woredas of Haruka and Buri Mudaytu in Afar region have been caught in the throes of conflict over resources with neighboring region. The most recent conflict, just a few months ago, displaced over 12,000 people, forcing them to flee their homes and livelihoods. Amidst these hardships, Kelem Ethiopia, with the generous support of its partners, USAID, IOM, and RRF, has stepped in to bring relief to these vulnerable communities through its Multi-Purpose Cash Distribution project.
Ahmed’s Story: Resilience in Adversity
Ahmed Ali, a 55-year-old father of eight, embodies the struggles of many displaced individuals. Injured during a conflict four years ago, Ahmed was once a thriving pastoralist and vegetable farmer. Now, he lives in a makeshift straw-built hut in one of the 18 internally displaced people (IDP) sites: the Rakbaberena IDP center. His leg injury makes life challenging, and he now walks with crutches.
Hence, he is selected and received the cash support While speaking about his plans, Ahmed shared, “I have 8 kids, and I will buy food for my family.” Grateful for the 17,420 birr cash assistance he received from Kelem Ethiopia, Ahmed highlighted the dire needs of his community, saying, “We need drinking water and grazing land for our livestock.”
Ketito’s Hope for Her Children
Ketito Ali, a 40-year-old widow and mother of six, lost her husband and most of her livestock during the conflicts. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Ketito prioritizes her children’s education, sending four of them to another town for schooling. “We have a lot of problems here; we don’t have access to health and education,” she explained. Upon receiving her cash support, Ketito said with relief, “Today I am very happy because I will send the money to my 4 children for their house rent and food.” Her resilience and dedication to her children’s future stand as a testament to her unwavering strength.
The Plight of Orphaned Children
Among the most vulnerable are young orphans like Medina Mohamad, 12, and Mayram Hussen, 13. Both girls have been thrust into the role of caregivers for their younger siblings. Medina, who lost her father to the conflict and her mother to illness, now cares for her two brothers while living in her uncle’s compound. “I am responsible to take care of my brothers, and I will buy food and goats with the cash,” she said. Similarly, Mayram, who lost her parents during the conflict, cares for her three brothers. “Children are sick of malaria and other illnesses, and we need good medication,” she shared. Despite their strong wish to join school, both girls have had to sacrifice their education to survive and support their families.
Kelem Ethiopia’s Lifeline of Support
Kelem Ethiopia’s efforts to support displaced individuals begin with careful planning and community collaboration. A selection and screening committee, comprising community members, local administrators, and Kelem’s team, ensured that the most vulnerable groups—such as widows, orphans, people with disabilities, elderly people and child headed and female-headed.
households—were prioritized. “Based on the agreed selection criteria, people with disabilities, child- and female-headed families, and widows were among the selected community members,” explained Ato Meles Chane, the MPCT project manager.
In December 2024, Kelem Ethiopia distributed over 34 million ETB to 2,000 displaced households, including Ahmed, Ketito, Medina, and Mayram. Ato Saadin Umer, the Haruka Woreda administrator, visited the cash distribution centers and expressed gratitude for the aid, saying, “We are very happy for the support you are giving to the displaced people in our Woreda.” However, he also emphasized the urgent need for more humanitarian assistance to address the community’s pressing needs.
Despite this success, Kelem Ethiopia realizes that the needs far outweigh the resources available, with only a quarter of the displaced population receiving assistance.
A Call for Increased Humanitarian Aid
Life in the IDP centers remains extremely challenging. There are 18 IDP sites in Haruka and Buri Mudaytu Woredas, accommodating 12,000 displaced people. These people need support. While the local government has provided some access to water, basic necessities like education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods remain a pressing need.
Although there are efforts to address these challenges, the demand for coordinated additional support from humanitarian organizations to scale up their support for these displaced communities remains significant. The resilience of people like Ahmed, Ketito, Medina, and Mayram demonstrates their determination to rebuild their lives, but they cannot do it alone. Kelem Ethiopia calls on other humanitarian organizations to increase their support to address the most urgent needs of the IDPs. With increased support, there is hope for a brighter future for the displaced people of Haruka and Buri Mudaytu Woreds of the Afar region.
