Ethiopia Roundup: Humanitarian assistance, power agreement with Kenya, origins of coffee
Humanitarian assistance from the U.S.
The U.S. is providing $154 million in additional assistance to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian partners in Ethiopia to address urgent needs caused by conflict, insecurity, and climate shocks. According to the U.S. Department of State, this brings the U.S.'s total humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia to nearly $243 million since Fiscal Year 2024. The funding will support essential services like protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, and mental health support for refugees and displaced populations.
UN-backed donors pledge $630 million
Pledges of $630 million were made at a United Nations-backed gathering for Ethiopia's humanitarian crisis but fell short of the $1 billion needed. Donors called The U.S., Ethiopia's leading humanitarian donor warned of stretched resources and urged protection for aid workers. Humanitarian organisations have had to scale down operations due to low funding, according to Africanews. “The pledges you have made here today will prove essential to support the chronically underfunded humanitarian system,” the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
Kenya to re-negotiate power agreement
Kenya is planning to renegotiate its power agreement with Ethiopia after 25 years due to the escalating energy situation in Addis Ababa, which poses a risk to Nairobi's power supply, Garowe Online reports. The deal aimed to provide affordable electricity to Kenya and reduce reliance on expensive sources, but concerns have arisen as Ethiopia grapples with a significant electrification deficit. The World Bank has launched a $1.4 billion program to strengthen Ethiopia's electricity network and boost renewable energy generation.
Study reveals prehistoric Ethiopian origins of coffee
Researchers have unlocked the genome of Coffea arabica, tracing its origins to a natural mating between two other coffee species 610,000 to one million years ago in the forests of Ethiopia. The study, led by experts Victor Albert and Patrick Descombes, emphasised the importance of disease-resistant breeding for Arabica coffee varieties. The researchers sequenced the genomes of 39 Arabica varieties, including a specimen from the 18th century, to create the highest quality genome to date of this species, whose scientific name is Coffea arabica. "We were able to sequence its genome, and we found that it was not particularly closely related to varieties in cultivation today," Albert said.
Holy See expresses solidarity on humanitarian crisis
Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, has expressed solidarity with Ethiopia's humanitarian crisis. The country is grappling with conflict, disease outbreaks, and the fifth consecutive failed rainy season, leading to severe drought conditions and increased malnutrition rates. Economic difficulties, such as inflation and disrupted trade, have exacerbated the situation. Despite the efforts of Ethiopian authorities and international partners, there is still a significant funding shortfall. Pope Francis has also expressed concern about the crisis and the need for solidarity. The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is playing a crucial role in providing aid to affected populations, benefiting nearly 6 million people in nine of the country's twelve regions in 2023, Vatican News reports.
