Ethiopia Drought Joint Response 2022 (EDJR) Ethiopia  is  experiencing its  worst and longest  climate-induced  drought  in  40 years. Following three consecutive failed  rainy  seasons  since  late  2020,  the  March-May  2022  rainy  season  largely  failed,compromising  fragile livelihoods heavily reliant on livestock and deepening food insecurity and malnutrition. As reported by FEWSNETthe population in need of humanitarian food assistance in Ethiopia has reached record levels in 2022 -10 to 15 million people -driven by ongoing insecurity and climate shocks that are likely to result in continued high needs into 2023. In  northern  Ethiopia,  where  large-scale  conflict  significantly  damaged  livelihoods  and  a  de  facto  humanitarian and commercial blockade persists, Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are likely, at a minimum, and roughly two-thirds  of  the  population  in  need  resides.  In  southern  and  southeastern  pastoral  areas,  the  extremely  poor performance  of  the  March  to  May  gu/genna  rainfall1has  led  to  large-scale  livestock  deaths  and  an  abysmal outlook for crop production. Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are likely with  increasing  concern  that  more  extreme  food  insecurity  could  emerge  in  mid-to  late-2022.  The  elevated likelihood that the October to December deyr/hageya2season will be below average(in terms of rainfall)is setting the  stage  for  an  unprecedented  five-season  drought,  deepening  the  already  high  levels  of  concern.  With  the potential for extreme outcomes and associated high levels of acute malnutrition and hunger-related mortality in multiple  areas  of  the  country,  large-scale  and  sustained  food  assistance,  as  well  as  unfettered  humanitarian 1Seasonal rainfall from April to May in Ethiopia.2Seasonal rainfall from October to December in Ethiopia.
3access, is needed urgently to save lives.According to Reliefweb(May 2022) the most affected regions are in the south of the country, including Somali (3 million people in need of assistance), South Oromia (2.8 million people), and SNNPR  (1  million  people).  People  living  in  these  same  areas  barely  managed  to  recover  from  the  severe drought in 2017 only to endure once again harsh conditions, the first signs of which started appearing toward the end  of  2020  and  which  then  continued  to worsen  with  the  successive  failed  seasons  in  2021.  Household  food security  is  extremely  constrained  as  well  now,  as  food  production  has  dropped  considerably,  and  staple  food prices remain above the five-year average. And in addition to the pre-existing shocks, the crisis in Ukraine  will mean disrupted supply chains of wheat to the Horn of Africa –a region highly dependent on imports from Russia and Ukraine –and even higher prices, which could have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for people who are already facing acute hunger. Ongoing  humanitarian  assistance  is  mitigating  food  consumption  gaps  for  many  households  across  Ethiopia. However, the needs are significantly outpacing assistance levels. While the size of rations has increased in recent months,  a  large  proportion  of  those  reached  in  2022  have  received  partial  rations,  a  reflection  of  the  limited response to a population that is likely facing moderate to extreme consumption gaps. In the Somali and Oromia regions, humanitarians have reached about 2.7 million people between December 2021 and April 2022, though rations have been reduced, in the Somali Region, due to limited funding. Provide 88.804affected  people with  life-saving  and  life-sustaining assistance. The Joint Response  plans  to  reach 229.051targeted  people  with  an  FSL,  WASHand  MPC intervention  in  the following locations:Somali Region: • Shebelle Zone (Woreda’s →Shabelle, Gode)Oromia Region:• Borena Zone (Woreda’s →Gubluk, Teltelle, Miyo, Moyale, Yabelo)• GujiZone (Woreda →Liben)• East Bale Zone(Woreda’s →LagaHida, Raytu)