Access Snapshot - and Siti zone, As of 31 January 2020

Afar region is highly prone to natural disasters The operating environment is highly compromised, with a high such as droughts and seasonal flooding. Long-- risk for humanitarian operations of becoming politicized. In ErebtiDalol Zone 2 term historical grievances coupled with March 2019, four aid workers were detained by Afar authorities TIGRAY resource-based tensions between ethnic Afar for having allegedly entered the region illegally. They were KunnebaBerahile and its neighbors i.e. (Somali), and Oromo conducting a humanitarian activity in , and decided to Ittu ( woreda) and Karayu ( woreda) in overnight in a village of Undufo kebele. In a separate incident, in AFAR Kurri Red Sea October 2019, an attack by unidentified armed men in zone 3, and in areas adjacent to special zone and Amhara- Afdera Robe Town Aso s a Ethnic Somali IDPZone 2016/2018 4 Zone 2 () region, continue to cause casualties and forced displacement, Aba 'Ala woreda, Zone 1, near , killed a number of civilians spark- Goba Town limiting partners’ movements and operations. Overall, Ethnican Oromia IDP 2016/2018 L. Afrera Ye'ch'ew ing outrage across the region and prompting peaceful demon- Awra estimated 50,000 people remain displaced, the majority of whom strations and temporarily road blockages of the Awash highway SNNP Zone 1 Bidu rely almost entirely on assistance provided by host communities. TIGRAYEwa On the other hand, in 2019, the overflow of and DJIBOUTI Clashes involving Afar and Somali Issa clan continue along Megale Afele Kola flash floods displaced some 3,300 households across six boundary areas between Afar’s zone 1 and 3 and Sitti zone. The AFARHaroTeru walabu woredas causing the loss of their productive assets. This Zone 4 (Fantana Rasu Kurri situation in the three contested kebeles of Gedmayitu (Amibara Yalo restricted physical access to vast areas along the river bank Mile Elidar Afambo and flood plains hampering assistance to IDPs. In addition, a woreda), Undufo ( woreda), and Adeyitu ( woreda), GulinaAdaa'r L. Abhebid remains very volatile. In 2014, an agreement between Afar and Awra Adaytu recent mission identified near 350 households in Mille woreda - DJIBOUTI Somali regional governments recognized a ‘special kebele status’ AMHARA SOMALI displaced by the flooding that ensued the sudden release of EwaTelalakDuba for these areas in Afar region predominantly inhabited by ethnic Zone 1 () water from Awash dam. Despite being able to access public Asayita Somali Issa clan. The three kebeles have strategic importance as Chifra Undufo Dubti services such as health and education, these IDPs have not Sene'asna kusrtu Ayisha they constitute trade routes connecting the Somali region with the Awash received any assistance since April 2019 and rely entirely on the Mile Afambo highway that links and Djibouti through Afar. Further, Adaa'rGewane Hadhagala host community AMHARAZone 5 L. Abhebid access and control of Awash river is at the heart of the conflict, Gablalu Siti SOMALI Along the regional border, the humanitarian situation in Sitti is HadelelaTelalak due to its importance for Somali pastoralist communities, particu- (Somali) dire. A recent assessment in Gablalau district, which shares a Gelealo larly at times of drought. Dewe long border with Afar and Djibouti, underscored the fragility of Samurobi Zone 3 Ayisha the security situation. Underlying vulnerabilities are aggravated Despite peace efforts by the two regional governments - Gele'alo Dalifage Gewane Gota-biki Hadhagala by recurrent conflicts, lack of basic services, and limited supported by the Ministry of peace - clashes between Afar and Zone 5 () Gablalu Gedamitu Diyara DanlaheyAfdem Siti SOMALI partner presence and operations. Zonal authorities estimate Somali Issa continue. Since April 2019, some 46,000 Ethnic Afar Hadelela Danlahelay Gelealo that between July and October 2019, conflict with Afar has were displaced from Mille, Dubti, Aysaita and Afambo woredas in MiessoAdaytu Amibara Madane displaced 78,000 people, mainly in three villages, i.e. Dhalactu, zone 1; from Gewane, Amibara and Gelalo in zone 3; and Dewe in Shinile Dembel Samurobi Gele'alo IDPsErer (Somali) in Ethnic Afar movements Gedamitu Gota-biki Allale, and Madane as well as in other remote ones. These IDPs zone 5. Zone IDPs inaccessible Returnees AwashArguba Special Ethnic Somali movements have only received some limited assistance provided by govern- Fentale Zone 3 () Partners in Afar do not feel safe to operate beyond the eastern Miesso kebeles Inaccessible areas ment since months. Reportedly, the number of people in need is Dulecha Amibara part of the ‘Awash highway’ and have de facto not accessed the Arguba Special OROMIA Madane Partially accessible areas increasing in remote parts of Gablalu, Erer, Afdem and Maiso three kebeles and boundary areas since July 2019. The large Awash BALE 40,000 11,500 Accessible areas 60,000Accessibility woredas, with an increase of acute malnutrition rates over the Awash Fentale presence of EDF along the highway prevents any further escala- Inaccessible last six months. The lack of road infrastructure in such a vast tion of violence. This notwithstanding, sporadic clashes continue OROMIA Partialy accessible Major road region impacts partners’ movements and operations. Mean- Displaced people due to the Afar/Issa conflict River causing casualties on both sides. Overall, the lack of humanitarGUJI- 115,000 22,500 Water body- while, security restrictions for UN Agencies remain in place in ian presence and limited attention to IDPs, are aggravating the (1) (1) 46,000 78,000 Afdem, Erer, and Gablau woredas for the last three months. situation of IDPs and other vulnerable groups in the sub-regionBORENA. 35,000IDPs in Afar region - IDPs in Siti zone,248,000 Somali region (1) IDP data are from Zonal Disaster Risk Management Office, Jan 2020. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Creation date: 31 Jan 2020 Sources: Zonal Disaster Risk Management Office Feedback: [email protected] www.unocha.org/ethiopia www.reliefweb.int/country/eth