A malnourished child looks on at the nutrition unit of the Gode General Hospital, in the city of Gode, Ethiopia, on Jan 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

ADDIS ABABA - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for urgent funding to respond to the growing humanitarian needs in Ethiopia.

UNICEF, in its latest situation update issued late Saturday, said its $674-million Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) 2023 Appeal for Ethiopia remains 76 percent unfunded, as humanitarian needs persist among vulnerable populations.

"Including $50.9 million in funds carried over from 2022, only $161.9 million is available toward the appeal to date, representing only 24 percent of the required needs to reach children and their families with critical lifesaving and life-sustaining support," the UNICEF said.

UNICEF said $345.4 million within its Humanitarian Actionb for Children appeal has been dedicated to responding to the severe drought that has impacted more than 24 million people across four regions

Within the appeal, $345.4 million within the HAC has been dedicated to responding to the severe drought that has impacted more than 24 million people across four regions, it said.

It said funding dedicated to the response in northern Ethiopia has been budgeted at $255.7 million and fully incorporated into the HAC.

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UNICEF said since the beginning of 2023, it has been able to mobilize $40.7 million for the Northern Ethiopia Response Plan and $46.6 million for the drought response.

"UNICEF continues to appeal for support to close the remaining gaps and to ensure that children and their caregivers receive life-saving support in 2023 and beyond," it said.

Amid the mounting security, health as well as other natural and manmade calamities, humanitarian organizations have been recently calling for concerted efforts and more funding to address the challenges.

On Friday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said eight months into the year, the current funding status of Ethiopia under the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan stands at $1 billion, with a high gap out of the $3.99 billion total requirements estimated at the beginning of the year.

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"Continued donors' support is urgent and critical to enable humanitarian partners to maintain and strengthen the delivery of assistance to vulnerable people in conflict and natural disaster-affected areas across the country," OCHA said.