US announces $331M in humanitarian aid for Ethiopia

NAIROBI, Kenya

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that Washington will provide more than $331 million in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia during the 2023 fiscal year.

"This assistance includes $12 million through the State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and more than $319 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development," he said.

It brings total US humanitarian assistance for the response to the region to more than $780 million in 2023.

The announcement makes the US the largest single-country provider of humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia.

Blinken said the aid "will help deepen the partnership between the United States and Africa."

The announcement comes as Ethiopia faces challenges -- conflict in the Tigray region that has since calmed, drought and food insecurity.

The aid aims to support Ethiopia in addressing those challenges and provide much-needed assistance to those affected, including critical, life-saving support such as food, shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, health care efforts, education and other key services.

Ethiopia is a key player in regional politics and a longstanding US ally.

Blinken arrived Wednesday in Addis Ababa and will meet high-level officials from the government, African Union and representatives of Tigrayan leadership.

He will visit Niger on Thursday.