ADDIS ABABA: IOM aims to provide 6,500 cooking-stoves and 450 communal stoves for community kitchens in West Guji (Oromia Region) and Gadeo Zones (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region) by October 2019. This is a continuous effort between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Korea and IOM to ensure displacement does not lead to environmental degradation.

The project which is in its second phase has supported IDPS who fled their homes since April 2018 after conflict between communities along the border of the two regions. IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) estimates that as of 30 November 2018, over 500,000 individuals remain displaced in the area, the majority living with host communities.

According to Yun Jin Kweon, IOM Peacebuilding Officer of the Emergency and Post Crisis Unit (EPC) in Ethiopia, the project will contribute to ongoing emergency response in the target areas.

“Doubled demands for firewood for cooking and other household consumption in displacement settings have accelerated environmental degradation and increased communal tension over limited resources,” Kweon said. “We see the project as an important step to inducing positive behavioural change of beneficiaries that can help mitigate these problems in an emergency context.”

In addition to improving access to household and communal cooking stoves, the project also seeks to raise awareness on fuel-efficient energy sources among IDPs and host communities.

IOM Ethiopia and the Government of the Republic of Korea have partnered on various initiatives since 2017 to support Ethiopian migrants. This particular one is a step forward in providing high-impact, long-lasting cooking assets to displacement-affected communities within the country.

The cooking-stoves have improved energy efficiency compared to traditional stoves as they require less fuel which contributes to reducing environmental degradation of local forests and energy resources.

Paolo Caputo, Head of Programs stated: “With established operational presence in three woredas – Yirgachefe and Gedeb in Gedeo Zone, and Kercha in West Guji Zone – IOM is currently providing humanitarian assistance to displaced individuals and affected populations through the provision of emergency shelter and non-food item (ES/NFI)”.

Mr. Caputo added: “IOM is also conducting data collection via the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, Site Management Support (SMS), and mobile Heath services”.

For further information, kindly contact: 

John Caccavale, Emergency and Post Crisis Unit, IOM Special Liaison Office (SLO) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tel. +251 115 57 17 07 (Ext. 1236); jcaccavale@iom.int

Yun Jin Kweon, Emergency and Post Crisis Unit, IOM Special Liaison Office (SLO) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tel. +251 115 57 17 07 (Ext. 1231); ykweon@iom.int