The United States Chargé d’Affaires in Ethiopia, Ambassador Tracey Jacobson, traveled to Semera, Afar Region and met with the Afar Regional President, Awol Arba. While in Semera, she also visited recovery and humanitarian assistance efforts in the Afar Region, launched USAID’s surging emergency support for children and schools affected by conflict across Afar, and met with Semera University President Mohammed Usman.
During her visit to Semera, the Chargé d’Affaires had the opportunity to sit down with Regional President, Awol Arba Unde. Ambassador Jacobson pledged continued support from the U.S. towards the region’s recovery, including direct humanitarian aid for those displaced by the conflict. So far in 2022, the U.S. has committed roughly $90 million in Afar, including about $50 million in the development of the region and another $40 million in urgently needed humanitarian aid. The U.S. is committed to supporting the Afar region—now during the conflict and in the future, during the coming drought and floods—and is particularly focused on those who are displaced and whose communities have been ravaged by conflict and other disasters.