The European Union has allocated €200,000 in humanitarian aid to assist communities affected by recent earthquakes in Ethiopia. The funding will support the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) in providing essential relief, including multipurpose cash, clean water, shelter, healthcare, sanitation, and emergency referrals.
The aid targets the Main Ethiopian Rift, specifically the Afar, Amhara, and Oromia regions, where seismic activity has caused significant damage. The four-month project will continue until the end of May 2025 and aims to assist 10,000 people. The funding is part of the EU’s contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
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Impact of the earthquake on communities
Since October 2024, Ethiopia has experienced multiple earthquakes, including a 5.8 magnitude tremor on 4 January 2025. More than 50 earthquakes have caused widespread destruction, damaging homes, infrastructure, and essential services. Over 99,000 people have been affected, with many displaced and now living in informal internally displaced person (IDP) sites.
The earthquakes have severely impacted critical infrastructure, including homes, schools, health centres, roads, and farmland. The damage has disrupted livelihoods and essential services, increasing the vulnerability of affected communities. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society, with the support of EU funding, aims to provide immediate relief to alleviate the crisis.
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Concerns over infrastructure and safety
The seismic activity has raised concerns over the stability of major infrastructure. Widening fissures on key transport routes have increased fears over the structural integrity of the Kesem/Sabure dam. Experts warn that any failure of the dam could lead to catastrophic flooding downstream, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.
Damage to the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, a key transport link, has also raised concerns about regional connectivity and economic disruptions. Additionally, the earthquakes have occurred near two active volcanoes, Fentale and Dofen, prompting fears of potential volcanic eruptions.
