A Finnish Parliament’s Development Policy Committee delegation visited Ethiopia from November 24 to 30 to assess the humanitarian situation in Tigray and the impact of Finland’s development cooperation efforts. Led by Jani Kokko, Vice-Chair of the committee, the group included members Inka Hopsu (Green League), Tuomas Kettunen (Centre Party), Ari Koponen (Finns Party), and Sari Tanus (Christian Democrats).
In Mekelle, the delegation learned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from the Tigray conflict, one of the bloodiest of this century. They visited a women’s shelter supporting survivors of sexual violence, which provides medical care and vocational training. According to local women’s organisations, around 126,000 women have been victims of such violence. The shelter is supported by the Finnish Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The delegation also toured a camp for internally displaced people, where UNICEF is implementing projects funded by Finland and Save the Children.
“These children have already lost everything once. We saw how having access to school gives them hope for the future in the midst of the humanitarian crisis. I’m pleased that Finland takes particular account of children with disabilities and in need of special support,” says Jani Kokko, the Vice-Chair of the Development Policy Committee.
The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is highly complex and has worsened significantly over the past ten years. More than 21 million Ethiopians require humanitarian assistance, including 12 million children and 4.7 million women. Additionally, over 4.4 million internally displaced persons are living in temporary shelters or with local communities throughout the country. Their displacement is primarily due to a combination of conflict, violence, climate change, and epidemics.
Ethiopia is the third-largest host of refugees in the world, receiving individuals from South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, and other countries. Unfortunately, international assistance has been insufficient to meet the needs of the affected populations. Only a quarter of the funding planned for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Humanitarian Response Plan for Ethiopia has been secured this year. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), only 40% of Tigray’s estimated need for food aid can be met next year.
Delegation praises projects supported by Finland
The delegation visited three Finnish-supported development projects in Ethiopia: the REILA land administration project, the COWASH water and sanitation project, and a resource centre for inclusive education in Hawassa. A key achievement of these projects is the land registration system, which promotes gender equality by allowing women to manage land, potentially setting a nationwide standard. The COWASH initiative has provided clean drinking water to about 5.5 million people, addressing health issues linked to water and reducing the burden on women and girls who often fetch water. In inclusive education, Finland has supported the development of sign language and its teaching materials.
In Addis Ababa, the delegation visited the Ethiopian Parliament and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and met with representatives from the EU, the National Dialogue Commission (NDC), and Finnish civil society organisations.
