Falls Church, Virginia (2/27/2023) — On February 27, 2023, OLLAA transmitted a letter to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) regarding the dire humanitarian situation in Oromia, and particularly within the Borana zone. In this letter, we raised their attention to the plight of Oromo pastoralist civilians living in Borana, who have been gravely impacted by drought and conflict in recent years, leaving to high levels of food insecurity and internal displacement. OLLAA urged USAID to take concrete action by visiting affected areas, including IDP camps, and other measures to ensure that humanitarian aid is provided to all civilians in need in the Borana zone.
This letter is one of many that OLLAA has sent to USAID over the past few years, highlighting the need to ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to all drought- and conflict-affected populations across Oromia, and follows a briefing given by USAID to the Oromo diaspora community this past December. OLLAA will continue to advocate for all governments and international aid organizations to increase their monitoring of and response to the dire humanitarian situation throughout Oromia. We urge all interested parties and members of the Oromo diaspora community to raise awareness of the humanitarian situation in Borana with government bodies and organizations devoted to the provision of humanitarian assistance across the world.
OLLAA is an umbrella organization that works in collaboration with dozens of Oromo communities around the world.