Determinants of Food Insecurity and Coping Strategies of Internally Displaced Persons In Hachalu Resettlement Site, Koye Feche Sub city Sheger City Administration, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2025-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
As of 2023, there were more than 3.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ethiopia as a result of armed conflict, climate shocks, and intercommunal violence (IDMC, 2023). The majority of these IDPs reside in the Oromia Regional State, where many of them suffer from acute food insecurity as a result of their livelihoods being upended, and their lack of access to humanitarian aid (WFP, 2023).In Hachalu settlement, food insecurity among internally displaced people (IDPs) is a serious problem that has a big impact on their general wellbeing. A study was carried out to evaluate the coping strategies and food security status of IDPs in the region in order to address this issue and guide future initiatives. In order to investigate the causes of food insecurity and the associated coping strategies among IDPs, the study used a descriptive and explanatory technique, combining quantitative and qualitative data gathering in a mixed-methods approach. A representative target group was created using a stratified random sampling procedure, yielding a sample size of 276 people. Of the IDPs in the survey, 58.3% were men and 41.7% were women, with the majority (71%) being between the ages of 35 and 44. The results showed issues in food insecurity and the socioeconomic difficulties that internally displaced people experience. Notably, 75.4% of IDPs lacked formal education and 56.5% were unemployed, highlighting the necessity of job training and educational programs. An overwhelming 84.1% of IDPs did not have access to enough food, even though the majority made between 2,001 and 3,000 Birr a month, which is slightly above the poverty level. With mean scores of 1.93 for worries about food sufficiency and 2.69 for limited availability of nutrient-dense foods, descriptive analysis revealed substantial levels of food insecurity. Additionally, the study identified strong correlations between food insecurity and factors such as economic status (r = 0.897), access to resources (r = 0.897), health (r = 0.891), coping processes (r = 0.859), and social support networks (r = 0.848). The study highlights how urgently aid is needed to address food insecurity among internally displaced people. It emphasizes the significance of increasing access to markets, clean water, and land to promote food security and asks for job training and educational activities to improve these people's socioeconomic standing. It is also considered crucial to treat health issues that restrict IDPs' ability to earn a living. According to the study, food insecurity is made worse by extended displacement, high food costs, and limited income opportunities, which push households to use unhealthy coping strategies like asset depletion, meal skipping, and child labor (FAO, 2023). In order to improve food security and resilience among displaced populations, the study emphasizes the critical need for focused interventions, such as livelihood support and social protection programs.The study concludes by highlighting the serious problem of food insecurity among Hachalu Resettlement Site 's internally displaced people and promoting all-encompassing solutions that include quick assistance, socioeconomic advancement, and better access to necessities.
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Keywords
Food insecurity, Displacement, Poverty, Resource access, Conflict, Food assistance, Hachalu Resettlement Site