NRC in Ethiopia

NRC’s operation

NRC is present in seven regions in Ethiopia, providing refugees and internally displaced people with emergency relief and helping them to rebuild their lives.

Education

We give children and youth a chance to return to formal schooling. Our education teams:

• give quality education and catch-up classes to displacement affected children and youth
• train teachers
• give literacy training to adults
• distribute school materials
• construct temporary learning spaces and distribute school materials in emergencies
• provide vocational training where students receive professional certification in trades like hairdressing and carpentry

Information, counselling and legal assistance (ICLA)

People affected by displacement often require assistance to interpret and navigate legal frameworks. We:

• help people understand their obligations and entitlements during displacement
• assist displaced people to access civil documentation
• collaborate with government partners to ensure that the legal framework of the country serves to protect displaced people in the long-term

Livelihoods and food security

We strive to improve peoples' living conditions and access to food and livelihood. We:

• give graduates from our vocational training courses business training and start- up packages that enable them to start their own businesses
• help displaced people to access markets and market chains
• distribute seeds and agricultural tools
• give training sessions on food security and agricultural production

Shelter and settlements

NRC is among the main shelter providers in refugee camps in Ethiopia and is present in several border areas. Our teams:

• provide refugees and host communities with shelter
• provide temporary and transitional shelters
• distribute household items like cooking utensils and plastic sheeting
• construct schools
• provide shelter construction training

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) promotion

   
We improve access to safe and sufficient water and sanitation facilities, and promote hygiene awareness. We:

• facilitate access to clean water and latrines
• construct and maintain water infrastructure like drilling boreholes
• raise hygiene awareness
• fight outbreaks of diarrhoea by providing chlorinated water for both people and livestock
• distribute hygiene items like soap
• provide water for agricultural production

Child Protection (CP)

Due to the high number of unaccompanied Eritrean children in the refugee camps in Shire, northern Ethiopia, NRC runs a child protection programme. We:

• identify care arrangements for the children
• provide shelter and food
• employ social workers and care takers to support the children
• refer children with special needs to specialised agencies