Families who are internally displaced at an IDP site in the East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region in Ethiopia. East Africa has been the hardest-hit region, with Somalia and South Sudan also among the top 10 countries for conflict-related internal displacement. “However, displacement in Ethiopia has unexpectedly sky-rocketed due to ethnic tensions and border disputes, exacerbated by the El Niño drought making resources scarce,” Bilak noted. Internal displacement in Ethiopia could have broader implications on the country’s development and stability if the root causes are not addressed, Bilak said, particularly as displacement camps and basic services continue to be stretched beyond capacity. “The development of the country will be stunted unless the government addresses the root causes of internal displacement, such as poverty, chronic food insecurity, and the effects of climate change,” she noted.

Source: Ethiopian News September 13, 2018 15:56 UTC