According to humanitarian organizations, millions of Ethiopian populations remain under threat of poverty, hunger, water shortages and chronic food insecurity.

Much part of the populations remains distant from access to clean water, basic education and health care services. Gambela region along the Sudanese border has remained underdeveloped with limited economic infrastructure, famine as a result of flooding, poor access to health and education facilities for decades.

Humanitarian assessment carried out in 2006 regarding humanitarian needs of the region has highlighted insecurity threat as a significant impediment influencing the lives and livelihoods of people in the region.

  As a result some of needs assessment to the area was cancelled due to ongoing security concerns. However, approximately 50,000 people were reported to have received relief food assistance in the region in 2006.  The delivery of health and education services was affected by the problem of access, acute shortage of skilled manpower in the region. In 2006 due to lack of clean water in the only hospital in the region, severe watery diarrhoea broke out resulting in the death of at least 10 people and affected over 1,400 others. Anywaa Survival Organisation-ASO works closely with humanitarian organisations, local and international organisations to improve services to the local populations since its establishment.