HelpAge International

Published purpose

February 2022 –The western state of Benishangul-Gumuz in Ethiopia has been beset by intercommunal conflict and rapidly deteriorating security since, at least, 2018. Current estimates indicate that more than 500,000 people are now displaced in the region of just over 1 million. This conflict has been marked by recurring attacks on civilians, with women, children, and other vulnerable members of the community feeling the greatest impact. With GAC’s support, HelpAge is addressing the essential humanitarian needs of vulnerable internally displaced persons, refugees, and host communities in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, with a particular focus on the elderly and other people with specific needs. Project activities include: (1) providing age- and disability-specific items, such as mobility aids, raised beds and toilets; (2) providing supplementary food rations; and (3) offering in-home health and nutrition services to some of the most vulnerable members of an already highly vulnerable population.