12 December 2022, Addis Ababa: The United Nations Population Fund, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, today handed over ten high-spec ambulances worth approximately 24.5 million Birr to the Afar, Amhara, Behishangul-Gumuz and Tigray Regions. The ambulances were purchased with the generous funding of the governments of Canada, Ireland and Japan as part of their support to UNFPA Ethiopia’s humanitarian response.   

The ambulances that were handed-over today will be deployed to strengthen the referral linkage for emergency obstetric, new-born care and other critical services at hospitals in the four regions whose health system have been devastated by the recent conflicts. 

Speaking during the hand-over ceremony, H.E. Mr. Mr. Stéphane Jobin, Ambassador of Canada in Ethiopia said, “We know that more sexual violence survivors than are counted are waiting at the other end of the trips these ambulances are about to take. Access for the survivors to services and access for the ambulances within their regions go hand in hand. Access is absolutely critical.” 

For her part H.E. Ms. Nicola Brennan, Ambassador of Ireland in Ethiopia said “the provision of Ambulances is a continuation of Ireland’s longstanding support to the health sector in partnership with Government, UN agencies and Civil Society. Currently, Ireland is supporting the continuity of life-saving health services, including maternal health and support for victims and survivors of sexual and gender based violence in Afar, Amhara, Somali and Tigray regions, with grants of €10.6 Million for a joint UNICEF-UNFPA programme. We sincerely hope the Ambulances handed over to regions today will greatly contribute to improving access to health services, including for the victims and survivors of sexual and gender based violence. We warmly welcome the recent permanent Cessation of Hostilities agreement, including the commitment to the restoration of all basic services.” 

“I sincerely hope that the new ambulances will strengthen the health referral system in the regions to reach out to all those women and girls in need, and also serve as a symbol of theenhanced friendly relationship between the people of Japan and the people of Ethiopia,” said H.E. Ms. Ito Takako, Ambassador of Japan in Ethiopia.

The health system and services in the conflict affected areas of the Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz and Tigray regions have been seriously compromised by the situation impacting access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. “The ambulances that were handed over today will strengthen the referral linkage in addressing obstetric complications and other critical cases thereby enhancing the efforts at promoting safe delivery and ending preventable maternal deaths,” said Ms. Suzanne Mandong, UNFPA Representative a.i. 

Through its Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Plan, UNFPA is supporting interventions in the four conflict effected regions focusing on prevention and response to gender-based violence and building back capacity on provision of services on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The hand-over ceremony was attended by high level officials from the Ministry of Health and the Afar, Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz regions as well as senior officials of the embassies of Canada, Ireland and Japan and UNFPA. 

For further information, please contact:  

• Alemayehu Bogale, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Emergencies Programme Analyst; UNFPA Country Office; E-mail: bogale@unfpa.org
• Paula Fernandez Seijo, Communication Specialist, UNFPA Ethiopia. Mobile: +251 935597136 - E-mail: pfernandez@unfpa.org 
• Abraham Gelaw, Communication Officer, UNFPA Country Office; Mobile: +251911488627; Email: gelaw@unfpa.org