This was stated by the head of OCHA’s Country Office for the African country, Paul Handley, during a meeting with the Ethiopian State Minister of Finance, Semereta Sewasew, reports the Finance Ministry.

The meeting was to discuss the humanitarian situation and the way forward in mobilizing resources for populations affected by conflict and climate change.

Handley stressed the need to strengthen food aid and cash transfer mechanisms to channel resources to the needy population in an efficient and effective manner.

For his part, Sewasew thanked the UN office for its contribution in terms of humanitarian support to communities affected by the conflict and, with regard to climate change, said that it has had multiple negative effects such as severe water shortages, dry pastures and reduced harvests.

The meeting highlighted the need to bring together all humanitarian and development actors working in the country to avoid fragmentation and duplication of efforts to effectively support communities affected by these causes to address their current needs in terms of food aid.

Also, in health services, water and sanitation, education, job creation and finally ensuring sustainable livelihoods and addressing the deprivation of IDPs.

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