---
title: "NRC in Ethiopia"
description: "Ethiopia is facing one of the world’s most complex and large-scale humanitarian crises. Chronic food shortages affect millions of displaced Ethiopians, as well as refugees from Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Sudan."
url: "https://www.nrc.no/countries/africa/ethiopia"
language: "en"
published: "2025-03-19T15:20:01Z"
modified: "2025-05-07T07:54:35Z"
---

# NRC in Ethiopia

Shitaye Gala, a displaced woman from Mutsa Shewara, uses a newly installed water pump. Photo: Karl Schembri/NRC

Ethiopia is facing one of the world’s most complex and large-scale humanitarian crises. Chronic food shortages affect millions of displaced Ethiopians, as well as refugees from Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Sudan.

Published 19. Mar 2025 Updated 07. May 2025

[Ethiopia](https://www.nrc.no/themes?categoryId=53)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is working in five of the 11 regions of Ethiopia – providing emergency relief to vulnerable families and helping them to rebuild their lives. We’re also ready to roll out rapid response programmes across the country whenever disasters strike.

## What’s happening in Ethiopia?

In recent years, Ethiopia has suffered armed conflict, political unrest and economic instability, as well as disasters and devastating droughts. The result is millions of families displaced across the country – and limited resources to respond to their needs.

Despite a peace deal in the north and ongoing efforts to return some of these people to their homes, Ethiopia is also dealing with a growing population of refugees – almost one million at the last count – as people cross the border from neighbouring Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Sudan.

Families across the country now face severe food shortages, yet the World Food Programme is cutting back its operations in Ethiopia. According to the 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview, over 31 million people there need humanitarian aid – and as the conflict and droughts continue, this number is only rising.

## Our response

We’re working with our partners in the following areas:

- **Water, sanitation and hygiene** – ensuring families in camps and settlements have clean water, proper sanitation and good hygiene practices.
- **Shelter and settlements** – providing emergency shelter, distributing household items and helping people find a more permanent place to stay.
- **Livelihoods and food security** – helping people with basic food needs, cash assistance and sustainable livelihood support.
- **Education** – constructing learning spaces and sanitation facilities in schools, distributing teaching materials and providing vital psychosocial support.
- **Information, counselling and legal assistance** – helping people access basic services, legal identity documentation and housing, land and property rights.

[Download the factsheet for NRC in Ethiopia](https://www.nrc.no/resources/fact-sheets/nrc-ethiopia--fact-sheet)

## Our operations

**NRC office established:** 2011

**Areas of operation:** Addis Ababa, Amhara, Afar, Oromia, SNNP, Benishangul Gumuz, Somali and Tigray regions

**Country Director:** Isaac Ooko

**Contact:** [isaac.ooko@nrc.no](mailto:isaac.ooko@nrc.no)

## Our impact

In 2025, we assisted 1,170,480 people through our programmes in Ethiopia:

- 90,781

  Education
- 284,642

  Livelihoods and food security
- 44,802

  Shelter and settlements
- 5,171

  Protection from violence
- 43,212

  Information, counselling and legal assistance
- 769,797

  Water, sanitation and hygiene
- 85,487

  Multi-purpose cash assistance

***Note:** some people received more than one type of assistance.*

### News and stories

## [Kalkidan once looked for work. Now she creates it](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/kalkidan-once-looked-for-work-now-she-creates-it)

07. Oct 2026 | Ethiopia

## [How a shared cafe is rebuilding one refugee's life in Dabat](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/how-a-shared-cafe-is-rebuilding-one-refugees-life-in-dabat)

07. Oct 2026 | Ethiopia

## [Securing the right to move](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/securing-the-right-to-move)

06. Sep 2026 | Ethiopia

[More news and stories](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=123,125,172,335,53&searchMethod=1)

### Publications

## [Putting People First: Community Engagement and Accountability in Practice](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/putting-people-first-community-engagement-and-accountability-in-practice)

05. Jun 2025 | America|Ethiopia|Myanmar|Palestine|Ukraine

## [The world's most neglected displacement crises in 2022](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/the-worlds-most-neglected-displacement-crises-in-2022)

01. Jun 2023 | Burkina Faso|Burundi|Colombia|DR Congo|El Salvador|Ethiopia|Mali|Sudan|Venezuela|Cameroon

## [NRC Horn of Africa Drought Response, January 2022 - June 2023](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/nrc-horn-of-africa-drought-response)

06. Sep 2022 | Africa|Ethiopia|Kenya|Somalia

[More publications](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=124,131,132,175,178,315,53&searchMethod=1)

**Region:** East Africa  
**Population:** 135.47 million  
**Total displaced:** 2.6 million  
**Refugees hosted:** 1.1 million