The Ethiopian government has convened the first meeting of its newly restructured Disaster Risk Management Council, marking a strategic move to secure what it describes as "humanitarian sovereignty."
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh has announced that Ethiopia is accelerating efforts to meet its humanitarian needs through domestic capacity, aiming to end the nation's reliance on international aid.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the restructured Council, DPM Temesgen stated that the new body—which now includes broader representation from various social and institutional sectors—will play an irreplaceable role in mobilizing national resources. He emphasized that the transition is underpinned by a new policy, proclamation, and the establishment of a Disaster Risk Response Fund.
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined a vision for building a resilient community capable of mitigating the impacts of both natural and man-made disasters. He confirmed that the Council has reached a common understanding on the need to strengthen systemic and institutional capacity to fulfill humanitarian requirements independently.
According to DPM Temesgen, a major effort is underway to replace aid-dependency with productivity, noting that roadmaps established since the 2016 Ethiopian summer season are already yielding results.
The government’s strategy focuses on establishing a reliable and sustainable disaster response fund and organizing emergency stockpiles at both federal and regional levels.
A primary goal is to ensure that displaced citizens are permanently rehabilitated and returned to productive roles in the economy. By leveraging the community’s tradition of mutual support and the "Medemer" vision, the administration intends to focus on the transition from a culture of receiving aid to one of local production.
DPM Temesgen concluded by stating that the journey toward humanitarian sovereignty requires knowledge and wisdom to overcome challenges. He noted that the Council has set a formal direction to mobilize the entire nation to realize an Ethiopia that is self-sufficient in its humanitarian response through strong leadership and a unified national vision.
