East and West Wellega, Benishangul-Gumuz Access Snapshot DRAFT As of 31 July 2019

The operating environment in Wellegas In West Wellega, partners and authorities have alerted that Sherkole remains highly constrained as a result of IDP returned to Kamashi zone are moving again back. In ongoing clashes between the Ethiopian Nedjo, authorities note that “the majority of IDPs returned Defense Forces (EDF) and Unidentified to Kamashi have come back” (an estimated 6,000), uncon- Armed Groups (UAG), which for the last two Metekel firmed reports note at the return of 8,000 IDPs to Menge Asosa months has intensified.While humanitarian woreda. The situation of these IDPs constitutes a case of partners are not being attacked, there remains a height- Oda Bilidigilu secondary (or tertiary) displacement, after they fled Asosa ened “indirect” risk. Sedal Kamashi zone in September 2018 and were returned in May - June 2019. Between March - June, there have a number of attacks in Yaso town and in the road to access Kamashi zone IDPs in West Wellega have highlighted the need to improve (Nedjo road) targeting government officials. This is of Haro Limu Gida Ayana security and intensify peace and reconciliation efforts. In particular concern given the high presence of UN and NGO this sense, IDPs who have moved back to West Wellega Mendi Town Limu partners in Nekemte, the regional hub for the Wellegas and Agelo Meti cite persistent insecurity and limited access to their former Kamashi. The likelihood that aid workers be indirectly Kamashi land as well as to shelter and services. In Nedjo town, IDPs Kiltu Kara East Wellega impacted by such attacks is high. Conversely, the security noted they had been denied access to services in areas of Leta Sibu situation in East Wellega is calm and enabling for partners’ Nedjo Kamashi return in BGR. In terms of shelter, most previous housings operations to assist the IDPs returned to boundary areas Nedjo Town Belo Jeganfoy were destroyed during September 2018 violence, aggravat- Babo between and Benishanghul Gumuz region (BGR).Gudetu Kondole ed by the lack of emergency shelter programmes and Dermiji Against this backdrop, in May – June the Government West Wellega partners. supported the return of thousands of Ethnic-Oromo IDPs Boji chekorsa In East Wellega, some 1,000 IDPs moved back from from East and West Wellega to Kamashi and Assossa Belojegenfoy woredas (Kamashi zone) to Sasiga woredas Kelem Wellega zones (BGR) as well as to boundary areas. In June, Ayira Gimbi Town (East Wellega) in June, noting the lack of shelter and assis- partners managed to access intermittently Kamashi zone Nekemete Town tance in general. At the time of writing, partners and author- and provide some assistance to IDPs, though insufficient. Gaji ities are assessing ways to assist these IDPs. IDP return operation Wayu Tuki The ongoing insecurity in West Wellega and challenging (May -Jun 2019) The situation of these IDPs is worrying because their Leka Dalacha road conditions in the region, affected partners’ ability to IDP returning to area of extreme vulnerability. In West Wellega, shelter conditions scale up the response as required. displacement (Jun -Jul 2019) Sayo Nole Buno for IDPs are extremely precarious, those in sites – mainly Inaccessible Bedele IDPs access to assistance has been constrained by the Nunu Kumbawomen and children – are staying in collective shelters, Partially accessible poorly protected from the weather, and with prevalent dismantling of previous IDP sites, with all sites now evacu- Ilu Aba Bora ated in East Wellega and only four spontaneous sites Accessible protection concerns. Government authorities have report- remaining in West Wellega hosting some 3,500 vulnerable edly not allowed partners to assist these IDPs arguing that (1) IDPs. Authorities and partners are considering to move 51,843 86,042 doing so would create a “pull factor” prompting more to these vulnerable IDPs to a site called “Aroji Camp” to better IDPs returned to Kemashi IDPs returned to East Wellega move back. zone zone assist them. As noted by IOM – SMS teams, given the Partners operations have been heavily restricted by the scale of devastation to houses and other properties and poor state of roads during the rainy season. This physical the limited assistance made available to the IDP returnees, access constraint has affected in particular Sedal Sirba it is difficult to conclude that all have actually returned to 12,751 29,289 IDPs returned to Asosa Abay, Agalometi, Yaso woredas in Kamashi zone, which at IDPs returned to West their home sites. The fact that these IDPs are no longer zone the time of writing remain inaccessible. Partners also registered, and have de facto “melted” among host Wellega zone. report difficulties in operating in Kamashi and Belojiganfo communities, has complicated the response. (1) Return data are from Disaster Risk Management Office, May 2019. woredas (Kamashi zone) and Haro Limu (East Wellega). 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: 01 Aug 2019 Sources: Disaster Risk Management Office Feedback: [email protected] www.unocha.org/ethiopia www.reliefweb.int/country/eth