Ethiopia Protection Analysis Update

The situation in Ethiopia continues to be characterized by multiple compounded crises, with conflict, violence, and climate change shocks, such as drought and flooding, exposing vast segments of the population to protection risks and human rights violations. Disease outbreaks and the impact of conflicts and climate change shocks affecting neighboring countries add to an already complex humanitarian situation in several areas in the country. As a consequence of these multiple shocks, Ethiopia is among the African countries with the highest number of internally displaced persons and returnees. These movements are results of the shocks affecting the country, and in turn increase people’s exposure to protection risks and their resorting to negative coping mechanisms.

While different regions present different dynamics and shocks, the Protection Cluster has identified five main protection risks requiring immediate attention at country level:

1. Attacks on civilians and other unlawful killings, attacks on civilian objects

2. Child and forced family separation

3. Discrimination and stigmatization, denial of resources, opportunities, services and/or humanitarian access

4. Gender-based violence (and associated harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage)

5. Impediments and or restrictions to access to legal identity, remedies, and justice