UN Agencies, Gov't Appeal for $73m in Refugee Funding


UN Agencies, Gov't Appeal for $73m in Refugee Funding

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Refugees & Returnees Service are appealing for 73 million dollars in funding to provide food to over 750,000 refugees in Ethiopia. Funding shortfalls have already forced the WFP to cut rations for refugees residing in 22 camps and five sites in the Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Somali, and Tigray regional states.  The Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State hosts the highest number of camps and refugees, while refugees from South Sudan comprise 46pc of the refugee population. Food rations fell by 16pc in November 2015, by 40pc last November, and by half in June 2022. The lack of funding and prevailing global food strains brought on by the pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, pose a serious risk to refugees. A study conducted by the UN agencies and the Service found that households in refugee camps are coping by reducing the number of meals they eat, consuming less appealing food, engaging themselves and children in income-generating activities, and borrowing cash.

[ssba-buttons]

Radar

Bank of Abyssinia Signs Partnership with Droga Cooperative

Bank of Abyssinia has entered into a partnership agreement with Droga Health & Financial Savings and Credit Cooperative to provide financial support and services for its members. The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bank's headquarters. The deal aims to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions, enabling cooperative members to access tailored banking services. It was signed by Wosenyeleh Abera, Deputy CEO for Customer Relations and Marketing at the bank, and Zelalem Yilma...


Radar

Wegagen Introduces Real Time SWIFT Tracking

Wegagen Bank has launched a new mobile app feature enabling customers to track international SWIFT payments in real time. The bank is the first in Ethiopia to introduce an online SWIFT payment tracking system. By integrating SWIFT Global Payment Innovation, customers, particularly those involved in import-export trade, can monitor cross-border transactions using a Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) directly from their smartphones. To use the service, customers select the SWIFT...


Radar

National ID, Zambia Partners to Expands Program Reach

The National ID Program has signed an agreement with Zambia's counterpart to provide consulting services for the development of software that will issue digital IDs. It is the first time the institution has extended its expertise beyond national borders, a sign of growing recognition for its rapid progress. Program officials described the partnership as a milestone in their effort to position themselves as a regional player in digital transformation. The collaboration is expected to center...