ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 19 — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that “more frequent and severe” climate change events have posed significant challenges to Ethiopia. The United Nations migration agency, in its latest report on Ethiopia‘s climate change and resilience building released Thursday, said the East African country is particularly vulnerable to droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and increasing temperatures, which have become more frequent and severe in recent years. It warned that climate change-related challenges have led to “both slow- and sudden-onset events increasingly affecting communities across the country.” According to the IOM, recent frequent and severe climate events have had “profound impacts” on livelihoods, especially in the agricultural sector, which is crucial for many rural communities that constitute 77 percent of the country’s population. “These climate-related challenges are exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and creating new ones, particularly in agricultural regions of the country,” the report warned. Meanwhile, the IOM also launched its five-year strategic plan for Ethiopia, aiming to strengthen migration governance, durable solutions, and humanitarian preparedness and response in the country. The new strategic plan for 2025-2029 outlines a comprehensive roadmap to address migration and displacement challenges while promoting inclusive development and resilience across the country over the next five years, it was noted. According to the IOM, the strategy signals the UN agency’s renewed commitment to supporting the Ethiopian government’s efforts toward tackling urgent humanitarian needs, strengthening migration frameworks, and leveraging migration as a positive force for development.
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