East and West Wellega, Benishangul-Gumuz Access Snapshot DRAFT As of 15 May 2019

The operating environment in West Wellega ( region)Wolaita is Wendo Chuko Bursa highly volatile due to active clashes between the Ethiopian SherkoleSIDAMA Daye Defense Forces (EDF) and Unidentified Armed Groups (UAGs) Kebado that continue to create time-bound restrictions to aid operations. Hagere Selam Dila Clashes are reported in Begi, Bogi Dirmegi, , , Leta Sibu, Town AsosaDILA Metekel Gwangwa , and Nejoworedas. As a result, partners’ movements and opera- Homosha ZURIA Bore tions are limited. Sodal/Sirba Abay ABAYA Wenago Mirab Bule Access to zone (Benishangul Gumuz region, BGR) remainsAbaya heavily WENAGO Oda Bilidigilu Afele Kola BULE restricted, given that the main road goes through West Wellega ( road). Kiremu The UN has not been able to access for the last eight months. GEDEO Irba Moda Assosa East Wellega Currently, partners are working to use alternative roads through East Wellega. Yirgachefe Kofele KamashiGUJI Gida Ayana YIRGACHEFE Haro Limu Against this backdrop, the Government continues to support the return of BambasiFiseha Mendi Town SolomoAgalometi thousands of IDPs from East and West Wellega to different woredas inGELANA Genet Mana Sibu Horo Gudru KOCHERE Kiltu Kara Limu (Oromia) Wellega Kamashi and Assosa zones (BGR), including to boundary areas. According to Leta Sibu Dimtu Nejo the latest Government data (unverified by humanitarian partners) some HAMBELA Nejo Town 72,593 IDPs have been returned to BGR, to Kamashi zone (Agelo Meti, Belo GEDEBWest Wellega WellegaWAMENA Kamashi Tore Babo Belojiganfo Jeganfoye, Kemashi, Sedal, and Yaso woredas) and Assosa zone (Oda Bildigi- Gedeb Gotiti Dirmeji lu woreda), and some 109,374 to boundary areas within Oromia region. Maokomo Special Begi Gudetu Kondole KERCHA Boji Chekorsa Kele Mao Komo Odo Shakiso Partners report that a number of IDPs have chosen to abandon the sites by Special Kercha Lalo AsabiGimbi TownGimbi their own means in order to avoid being returned, mainly citing safety and Ayira BIRBIRSA Segen Town security concerns. From an access perspective, this is a concern given that BULE HORA Peoples KOJOWAGaji delivering assistance to these IDPs will become more difficult from now on as Kelem Wellega West Boneya Boshe Shewa they are scattered among local communities. Further, there have been reports Bule Hora of IDP families returning back to areas of displacement by their own means Accessible woredas Sayo Nole SURO after being returned to areas of origin by the Government. The situation of BURGUDAPartially Accessible these IDPs is very concerning in terms of their extreme vulnerability and their woredas seamless access to assistance, as the Government is reportedly dismantling Hiyadima InaccessibleWEST woredas GUJI the sites where they had been hosted. Soyoma DUGDA DAWA MELKA SODA Most IDPs had not been able to return to their areas of origin, either due to the Finchawa Returns by woreda (1) destruction of their former homes or due to security concerns. Currently, after 228,200 72,593 Kamashi 45,033 being returned to areas of origin, many IDPs are being hosted in collective Number of IDPs in East and IDPs returned to Kemashi and Yaso 15,939 West Wellega. Assosa zones from East and 22,712 sites rather than going to their homes. The multiplicity of displacements is BeloJiganfo 10,318 likely to have induced very high levels of vulnerability. Lastly, from a “do no West Wellega. 17,053 Kamashi 21,010 harm” perspective, the re-displacement of large number of IDPs to areas that (2) Agalometi 13,300 4,978 IDPs from woreda are only partially accessible is a major concern. First and foremost, for the 181,967 109,374 10,633 Number of IDPs that returned. Sodal 3,965 Returnees to woreda IDPs returned to boundary safety and security of IDPs, and secondly, in terms of partners’ ability to 76% and 84% have returned areas within Oromia region operate in such areas. from East and West Wellega. Oda Bilidigilu 15,812 from East and West Wellega. 15,812 (1) IDP data are from DTM Rapid Response Assessment (RRA 2) , March 2019. (2) Return data are from Disaster Risk Management Office, May 2019. 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: 15 May 2019 Sources: DTM RRA 2, Disaster Risk Management Office F eedback: [email protected] www.unocha.org/ethiopia www.reliefweb.int/country/eth