
Ethiopia: Ogaden – World Food Programme and Somali Regional State – Joint press statement on impacts of drought in Somali Region (07.12.2021)



The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is facing a major funding shortfall over the next six months threatening its ability to meet the critical food and nutrition needs of millions of food insecure Ethiopians and refugees.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 6, 2021 – WFP has a funding gap of US$579 million to deliver life-saving food assistance and livelihood support activities to 12 million people in Ethiopia over the next six months. This includes US$316 million that is urgently needed to deliver emergency food and nutrition assistance to 3.7 million people in northern Ethiopia over the next six months.
The Government of Ethiopia, WFP, and other partners are struggling to alleviate the country’s hunger crisis. The extended combined effects of conflict, drought, flooding, desert locust invasions, market disruptions and high food prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic have left an estimated 13.6 million people food insecure.
“Timely and complete food and nutrition support is critical to alleviating the suffering of millions across Ethiopia. In addition to the severe challenges facing conflict-impacted populations in many regions, we are deeply concerned about climate-related vulnerability and food insecurity in dry lowland areas,” says WFP Representative and Country Director, Dr. Steven Were Omamo.
“There is food available in the country. But if WFP doesn’t receive commitments of new funding in the coming weeks, we will be unable to purchase and mobilise this food to prevent millions from falling into severe hunger and hardship by early next year,” warns Dr. Omamo.
Record-high levels of acute food insecurity are expected in Ethiopia through at least mid-2022, with northern, southern, and south eastern parts of the country of highest concern, according to the latest Ethiopia Food Security Outlook (FEWSNET, October 2021 – May 2022).
In northern Ethiopia, the food security situation in all three regions of Afar, Amhara and Tigray is already critical and will worsen if conflict-induced interruptions to humanitarian aid continue. The impacts of ongoing conflict – including continued disruption to trade flows and minimal economic activity – will come on top of already significant losses to food and income.
Ethiopia’s southern and south eastern pastoral areas are facing a third consecutive below-average rainfall season, with an intensifying drought causing significant livestock losses, wiping out fragile livelihoods, and worsening food insecurity through mid-2022.
International donor partners have stepped up and committed more than ever before to WFP’s response in Ethiopia, but the level of funding has not kept pace with rising needs. Funding shortages have already forced ration cuts for some 710,000 refugees across the country and 2.4 million food insecure people in Somali region. Refugees are now receiving 60 percent of the required kilocalories per person/day while food insecure families in Somali region are receiving 10 percent less cereal per person, per month.
WFP’s staff are guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity, and independence. WFP is working throughout Northern Ethiopia with the Federal government and regional authorities to reach populations affected by the conflict, wherever possible, and calls on all parties to respect the organization’s assets, staff and commodities, and access to areas of need.

The Tripartite Alliance, the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Eritrean Defence Force and Amhara Special Forces/ Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” have in this ‘counteroffensive’ ensured the defeat and taken huge leaps in stopping the tracks of Oromo Liberation Army and the Tigray Defence Forces. They have also taken grounds kept by the Agew Liberation Front. Therefore, the OLA-TDF union has gotten stung by the Tripartite Alliance.
Since, the TDF-OLA advances was going towards Debre Birhan, the joint forces had been able to go as far as Debre Sina. They had also advanced into the Molale in North Shewa and Mehal Meda in Menz Gera Midir woreda. That was reported as late as 22nd November 2021. Since then things have turned ugly and the TDF-OLA have lost on most fronts.
This ‘counteroffensive’ have been successful, as North Wollo and Lalibela have been taken over by the by Tripartite Alliance. These have gotten as far as the Kombolcha and Dessie. These places was officially taken over by the TDF-OLA on the 31st October 2021. Now, by the time of December 2021 these gains seems to be backfiring.
In the Amhara region and in Afar region the TDF-OLA gains seems to have vanished. In the Oromia region the OLA still have taken control over vast areas. While some places are lost and the OLA has gone back to the wilderness, as it did before. Therefore, the war will be prolonged and the damage it does will not be swift.
There was lots of speculations early in November about reaching Addis Ababa. However, at that time the Tripartite Alliance was losing territories and strategic towns outside of the Tigray region. Now, the TDF-OLA union seems shaky, but the TDF says it’s strategical retreat. Nevertheless, that is hard to prove and the gains have been really quick.
Some will praise the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, because all of this happened after he went to the frontline. Still, there is reports of usage of EDF in ENDF uniforms and that there is also support of foreign forces with technical expertize and military equipment, which have given the Tripartite Alliance an advantage. As the TDF-OLA is more ground based and guerrilla warfare. As the ENDF and allies has been more conventional warfare with mechanical divisions and an air-force to back-it up. Therefore, the Tripartite Alliance have taken most of the former advances back.
If the Tripartite Alliance really continues to gain like this. Than nobody should shocked, if they are able to take back Weldiya as well. However, that is only speculation, as there is now words of movement towards Komblocha and Dessie. That is really the clear message.
The TDF-OLA union is shaky now. Unless, these is tactical retreats and the parties are well aware of the consequences. To give the other army a sudden new reach. While also securing the logistics of a stretched armies of the TDF-OLA. Which is very obvious here. Just like there was early misuse of advances within Afar region and closing of the cargo routes to Djibouti. The call for the fall of Addis Ababa in early November 2021 was also stated to early.
This ‘counteroffensive’ has worked just like ‘Operation Alula’ worked earlier in the year. We just have to follow and see how this pans out. However, there is a media-blackout and there is lack of intelligence, as the Nationwide State of Emergency has forbidden leaking information from the front-lines. Therefore, we never know and just have to follow things with gut instinct and never taken the first reported tweets as facts. Since, the state media and the others are spreading their messages too. Peace.






Agew Liberation Front (ALF) has put a press release in detail regarding the current situation. In this regard, it calls for Ethiopian nationalities to play their role. Fascist Abiy Ahmed and his delegates to take full responsibility of the war that lasted for 1 year.
If the war is under their responsibility for the whole war so far, the aim of this war is respected by the ethnicity. It is to establish a country that is seen as a result of destroying nationalities and planting a traitor Shewa government. The respected Ethiopian nationalities and nationalities, our aim is to carry the people on their own rights and responsibility of self-administration. Abiy’s fascist group is not knowing the inner secret of the country and is going to shed the blood of the people of the country to end the eternal enmity. We remind you that we have been passing this call to think of each other’s friendship for the sake of one individual group, your precious souls will not be in danger.
Fascist is taking our people to the massacres of military defeat to the massacred and is going to an unwanted situation.
Respected Ethiopian nations and nationalities, we want to share this to let you know if you don’t see the genocide happening in Agaw and other areas.
We shall conquer with our hands of judgement.
Agew Liberation Front (ALF)


On the 2nd December 2021 UN OCHA Situation Report on Ethiopia was released and the numbers are staggering. The needs are vast and the hands to do so is tied. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) is clearly behind on its mandate and the UN Organizations must cover the needs, which is happening the FDRE territory. Despite all the vilification of “wheat aid” and other measures. The needs are there and the total picture is ghastly.
“The situation in northern Ethiopia remains precarious and volatile with the continuation of active hostilities in several locations leading to increased humanitarian needs and vulnerabilities due to large-scale displacement, loss of livelihoods and access to markets, food, and basic services. Humanitarian partners have limited or no access to a large segment of the population across the three affected regions, hampering the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance” (OCHA, 02.12.2021).
The three regions who is hardest hit by this is the Tigray, Afar and Amhara region, which all has been inflicted by the warfare. While the Tigray Region is where the most is still affected and where the humanitarian blockade have stopped all proper humanitarian assistance, a man-made famine and weaponizing hunger. Which the FDRE is denying but is a clear fact by how it has operated over the last year.
The total target in the three regions now is 9.4 million citizens in dire need of humanitarian assistance. As the conflict and warfare is on several fronts. While other zones and woredas are now accessible for the humanitarian assistance to return to as well. This means the organizations who is responsible and delivering the assistance have to be allowed to enter and do its job, which haven’t been the case.
“WFP reported in a statement on 26 November that the number of people in need of humanitarian food assistance across northern Ethiopia has grown to an estimated 9.4 million as a direct result of conflict. Amhara Region has seen the largest increase of people in need with 3.7 million people now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian situation in parts of Amhara, including North Wollo, Wag Hemra and parts of South Wello, as well as in conflict-affected areas in Afar, are of particular concern due to disruption of livelihoods and markets and lack of access to humanitarian assistance. In Tigray region, 5.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, of which at least 400,000 are believed to be facing famine-like conditions” (OCHA, 02.12.2021).
Here you see the distress and the dire needs explained, as the situation isn’t becoming better, but only slightly worse. As new areas and new issues are becoming prevalent. That is very clear by this.
The whole situation report is shattering, as so many lives is at stake and it’s all done for one man to consolidate all power under him. They are all victims of his anger and vengeance against one group people. Therefore, everyone must suffer consequently. That is tragic, but the world we are living in. Peace.

The Nationwide State of Emergency and the “Campaign of Survival” is steaming ahead. The ‘Counteroffensive’ of Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) is going ahead on the fronts of North Wollo in Amhara Region or on the fronts of Afar region. Where the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) union are retreating from. However, we don’t know what sort of plan is behind here.
What is striking is that the Ministry of Education is releasing this sort of statement and press conference. We have already seen some regional government have trained the civil service for the army. This meaning that teachers and others got training like soldiers. Therefore, now children and students is supposed to go to the fields and harvest crops.
Here is the statement:
“It is reported that during the closure of the schools, there will be a widespread harvest of non-collected crops and family support campaigns. It is also stated that all school days will be reimbursed in accordance with the compensation program issued by the schools. The Minister of Education, Prof. Berhanu Nega, said in his statement that it is impossible to live without a country and everyone has a responsibility to protect the country. Therefore, the education sector will fulfill its national responsibilities. It was also decided that those in the education sector should participate in donating money, donating blood and preparing food. Students are also invited to fulfill their national duty and participate in the process of building our country” (Ministry of Education, Ethiopia, 02.12.2021).
This sort of message and statement shows that everything isn’t in order. When the Ministry of Education see this as a fit thing to do. That the schools and universities are getting closed. So, the children and youths will be ordered to harvest crops. If not… they will be left behind or be home.
If the Prosperity Party and FDRE thinks this is a winning formula. They are certainly telling how bad the situation is. This the same government who communicates against the man-made famine and humanitarian crisis in Tigray region. A government who only communicates about the previously taken zones and parts of regions where the TDF/OLA had taken control over. Where they are dropping knowledge and saying what has occurred. However, it has distanced itself and dismissed all about where they started the conflict. Which has implicated the rest of Republic.
Now, kids and youths are supposed to be on the fields and harvest crops. Peace.