21-003-RR DERF Alert Note Humanitarian Response for IDPs (Children) in Dessie Town (not activated)

International Aid Services has submitted an alert regarding the humanitarian crisis for IDPS in Dessie Town, Ethiopia. 

DERF has decided not to activate the alert. Please see the decision note for more information on this.

As a result of the current conflict between Tigray People Libration Front/TPLF force and Ethiopian Defence Forces/EDF more than 104,275 IDPs influxes to Dessie city from different districts and towns of North Wollo and of South Wollo, Wagimra in Amhara region and zone 4 of Afar region. As far as the nature of crisis is concerned it is a conflict induced displacement of civilians from North &South Wollo, Wagimra in Amhara region and zone 4 of Afar region. Subsequently, the crisis affected the psycho-social and physical wellbeing of the IDPs and getting worse as the TPLF forces advanced to seize more areas in the Amhara and Afar regions.

Currently, the displaced people sheltered in Dessie town in twelve temporary shelters at schools; significant number of people are residing with relatives and others live by renting of a single room houses in groups in the community living in congested and bad situation with limited emergency assistances; children and pregnant and lactating women sleeping and give birth on cemented floors rooms at schools. The situation has become even worse since the rainy season has begun. Dessie city is accommodating huge number of influx of people, overcrowded with displaced people, and this has significantly affected the social services provision and sky rocketing prices on commodities. Children are the most vulnerable segments of the population.