1. Mr. Abebe, why do so many people know so little about the crises in Sudan and the Horn of Africa?

TA: There may be an extensive list of reasons for this. However, based on my reflections and experience working and living in the horn of Africa, I would highlight the following:

• Geographic proximity influences attention. People naturally tend to follow and engage more with crises that are closer to their own countries and regions, as these often feel more immediate and relevant to their daily lives.
• The crisis has become protracted. The humanitarian challenges in Sudan and across the Horn of Africa have persisted for many years. Unfortunately, prolonged crises often receive diminishing media coverage and gradually fade from public attention, even when conditions continue to deteriorate.
• Global attention is often shaped by geopolitical and economic interests. Crises that directly affect international trade routes, energy security, or broader geopolitical interests tend to attract greater political and media focus.
• International priorities have shifted. In recent years, much of the attention of political leaders, institutions, and media in the Global North has been directed toward other major global developments and conflicts, reducing the visibility of Sudan and the Horn of Africa.
• The complexity of the region can make it difficult to communicate. Multiple overlapping conflicts, displacement crises, climate shocks, and disease outbreaks can be challenging to explain in simple narratives, making it harder to sustain public attention.

2. How serious is the situation on the ground at the moment?

TA: The situation across the Horn of Africa is extremely concerning and remains one of the world's most severe and multidimensional humanitarian crises. The challenges facing communities are not driven by a single factor but by the convergence of several crises occurring simultaneously. Ethiopia is currently in a worst situation.

• Multiple crises are compounding each other. Protracted armed conflicts, recurrent climate shocks such as droughts and floods, economic decline, and disruptions to basic public services are affecting millions of people across the region. Ethiopia is one of them with serious and protracted conflict since 2020.
• Humanitarian needs continue to grow while resources are under pressure. The situation is further aggravated by constrained market supplies, a global humanitarian funding shortfall, and disruptions to fuel and supply chains linked to wider regional and international crises. The current fuel crisis in Ethiopia has an immediate lifesaving services like ambulance services, which is another layer of crisis form exiting ones.
• Access to vulnerable communities remains a major challenge. In many conflict-affected areas, insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and logistical constraints make it difficult for humanitarian organizations to reach people most in need.
• Humanitarian workers are increasingly exposed to risks. We continue to see attacks on aid workers and violations of International Humanitarian Law. Such incidents not only endanger humanitarian personnel but also prevent life-saving assistance from reaching affected populations. In Ethiopia the Ethiopian Red Cross Society has lost life of its workers and volunteers last year and under high risk of managing operations on the ground.
• Displacement remains widespread. Millions of people have been displaced within their own countries, while others have crossed borders seeking safety. Countries in the region are simultaneously dealing with internal displacement and new arrivals fleeing conflicts in neighbouring states.
• Disease outbreaks add another layer of vulnerability. The region continues to face recurrent public health emergencies, including outbreaks such as those currently affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. These outbreaks place additional pressure on already fragile health systems.
• The economic situation is becoming increasingly difficult for ordinary families. High inflation, particularly in countries such as Ethiopia, has significantly reduced people's purchasing power. Many families are struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, healthcare, and education.

3. What do families fleeing violence and hunger go through?

            TA: See below my brief answer.

• Complete loss of livelihoods, homes, assets, and sources of income, forcing them to start life from scratch.
• Exposure to violence, insecurity, exploitation, and family separation during displacement.
• Significant mental health and psychosocial challenges caused by trauma, loss, and uncertainty about the future.
• Difficult living conditions with limited access to shelter, food, healthcare, and education.
• Challenges integrating into host communities, which are often under pressure themselves and have limited resources.

4. What impact do these conflicts have on children?

TA: Here are some of my thoughts:

• Disrupted access to education, with many children missing years of schooling and some never returning to school even after the situation stabilizes.
• Increased exposure to violence, displacement, and protection risks.
• Higher risk of child labor, early marriage, and other harmful coping mechanisms as families struggle to survive.
• Serious mental health and psychosocial impacts, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and loss of hope for the future.
• Limited access to healthcare, nutrition, and safe environments essential for healthy development.

5. How difficult is it for the Red Cross to provide aid?

TA: While the Red Cross often benefits from relatively strong access due to its neutral and impartial mandate, this access can come at a high cost, including serious risks to the lives and safety of staff and volunteers, as seen in contexts such as Ethiopia.

• Poor infrastructure and limited connectivity make it difficult to reach remote and affected communities.
• High inflation and market instability significantly increase operational costs, making it challenging to deliver assistance within planned budgets and to meet growing needs and expectations.

6. What role do diseases such as Ebola play, in addition to the humanitarian crisis?

TA:

• They place additional strain on already overstretched and fragile health systems, competing for limited resources.
• They indirectly disrupt the delivery of supplies and community-level aid support due to emergency response priorities.
•  They increase the overall cost of humanitarian assistance, particularly because of the need for additional protection and prevention measures.

7. Are there any encounters that still haunt you to this day?

TA

• There is no single specific encounter, but in my daily work I am constantly confronted with difficult news and crises in the countries I work in, rather than positive developments. This naturally has an emotional impact on me as a person.
• Over the years, I have learned to adapt to this reality, as maintaining continuity in humanitarian work is essential despite the emotional weight it can carry.

8. What do people need most urgently?

TA:

• Peace and security.
• Safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.
• Freedom of movement for civilians.
• Access to basic needs such as food, water, and shelter.
• Basic and functioning health services.

9. What should the international community be doing now?

TA:

• Stronger resource mobilization to meet growing humanitarian needs.
• Sustained humanitarian diplomacy to ensure access, protection, and respect for International Humanitarian Law.
• Support for community recovery and livelihoods to help people rebuild their lives and regain self-reliance.

10. What would you like to see from the people of Europe?

TA:

• Consistent and equitable support for humanitarian crises, regardless of where they occur.
• Greater empathy and awareness of the realities faced by affected communities.
• Continued solidarity through advocacy, funding, and attention to forgotten or underreported crises.
• Stronger localization of humanitarian operations, empowering local actors and communities to lead responses wherever possible.