NDRMC committed to cementing collaboration with humanitarian agencies, operators

Addis Ababa, November 26, 2023 (FBC) – The National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen collaboration with humanitarian agencies and operators for proper distribution of assistance in Ethiopia.

Chief Commissioner of NDRMC, Shiferaw Telekemariam, said the Government of Ethiopia is very much ready to work together in collaboration with humanitarian agencies and operators as long as they are in line with the policy of the land and the government’s scheme.

In this regard, the commissioner commended the decision of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to resume the food assistance paused in June 2023.

Various frameworks have already been developed on establishing collaboration with humanitarian agencies and operators, he stated.

The first one is the national guideline on targeting which encourages a collaborative process that would govern all stakeholders, namely government, aid agencies, and operators.

According to him, the guideline is very important to have a proper targeting of individuals with no inclusion and exclusion errors.

Most importantly, the guideline is necessary to target those who need assistance the most.

Explaining the vision of the National Disaster Risk Management Commissioner, Shiferaw said that the nation’s ambition is to permanently manage risks and the resilience coping mechanism on humanitarian affairs.

“For us, it is a sovereignty and moral issue or obligation. To be on the humanitarian relief list  is  something which you will be forced to do or  being forced by situations. It is not something you enjoy for being there,” he underscored.

Despite attending to the immediate needs of beneficiaries because of drought, flooding, and climate-induced impacts, the commissioner stressed the need for  working on self-reliance of humanitarian capability in the country’s internal mechanism.

“Everyone at the district, zone, regional and community levels have taken a commitment to ensure that to happen. Of course, we are also very much ready to work together in collaboration with all international and local organizations that are willing to follow the government’s policy at the operational level as well as at the higher level.”

Shiferaw also underscored the need for creating awareness among policy makers and the general public about the way-out for any kind of disaster and disaster risks is to prepare ourselves to respond.

“It is not to wait for someone to come and rescue our endeavors,” he said.

According to ENA, the Government of Ethiopia has distributed humanitarian assistance to 7.3 million people over the past three months.