MSF, Doctors Without Borders, MSF activities in Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) delivered vital assistance to people affected by conflict, drought, floods and disease outbreaks in seven regions of Ethiopia in 2024.

Insecurity and administrative challenges continued to hamper humanitarian access to over 21 million people in need of assistance across the country in 2024.  

Our activities in 2024 in Ethiopia

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2024.

MSF IN ETHIOPIA IN 2024 Doctors Without Borders (MSF) worked in 10 regions of Ethiopia to deliver healthcare to people through administrative barriers and ongoing insecurity in 2024.
MSF, Doctors Without Borders, MSF activities in Ethiopia
MSF, Doctors Without Borders, Ethiopia, killing of MSF staff
MSF Staff killed in Ethiopia

Brutal killing of our colleagues in Tigray, in June 2021

On 24 June 2021, our colleagues María Hernández Matas, Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael were killed while providing life-saving assistance to people in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. No one has claimed responsibility for their killing.

MSF engaged with the Ethiopian authorities for four years, requesting a formal and transparent investigation into their killing. In the absence of such an investigation, we have released our own internal review on what happened to our colleagues that day. This review found that their killing was a targeted, and intentional, attack on clearly identified aid workers. We will continue to honour the memory of María, Yohannes and Tedros, and pursue accountability for their killings.

Read our internal review

In Gambella, we provided essential care at a health centre in Kule refugee camp. This included specialist treatment for malaria, malnutrition, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and vaccinations, including for malaria.

In Somali region, MSF’s emergency team responded to malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and mass displacement.

In Afar, we ran water and sanitation activities and an inpatient therapeutic feeding unit. We also supported the regional hospital’s paediatric department and a cholera response.

In the South Ethiopia and Southwest Ethiopia Peoples’ regions, we used mobile clinics to deliver care for malaria and measles, as well as kala azar (visceral leishmaniasis).

In Amhara, our teams provided emergency healthcare for people affected by the ongoing conflict, and continued to focus on preventing and treating neglected tropical diseases, such as kala azar and snakebites.

In Tigray, we ran a range of services, including maternal and child healthcare, a nutrition programme, and treatment for SGBV. In addition, our mobile teams worked in hard-to-reach areas and repaired over 600 water pumps. We also rehabilitated several departments in Abiy Adi General hospital.

In Oromia, we responded to a surge in malaria cases at two hospitals, and ran mobile clinics, conducting health promotion and water and sanitation activities, and distributing mosquito nets.

In Korem, we ran mobile clinics and supported the general hospital’s maternal and child health and emergency departments.

MSF continues to call for accountability for the deaths of our colleagues

On 24 June 2021, our colleagues María Hernández Matas, Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, and Yohannes Halefom Reda were intentionally killed while clearly identified as humanitarian workers, in Tigray. We continue to pursue accountability for their deaths, with the hope that this will improve the safety of humanitarian workers in Ethiopia.

IN 2024

 
Attacks on healthcare facilities in Tigray, Ethiopia
Armed conflict

Health facilities targeted in Ethiopia’s Tigray region

Latest News 15 Mar 2021
 
MSF car passing camels in Ethiopia Tigray region
Armed conflict

Ethiopia: “If seriously ill people can’t get to hospital, you can imagine the consequences”

Patient and Staff Stories 5 Feb 2021
 
MSF, Docotrs Without Borders, Ethiopia, Tigray region conflict
Armed conflict

Psychological support for MSF staff on the border with Tigray, Ethiopia

Latest News 22 Dec 2020
 
Malnutrition

Mental Health: “This is a new and strange place – adjusting to it can be difficult”

Patient and Staff Stories 20 Dec 2018
 
Sexual and gender-based violence

Christine Tasnier: Hope To Return

Patient and Staff Stories 20 Dec 2018
 
Malaria

When a ‘thank you’ is the highlight of your profession

Fieldworkers Stories 18 Oct 2018