The context within which EARDA has been established is the growing instability and fractured politics within the Horn of Africa, East Africa and the wider Red Sea area, and the repercussions for peace, security, socio-economic development, and the associated current and emerging  humanitarian disasters. 

The rationale for the establishment of EARDA is to establish a direct line of support between the East African diasporas and their communities of origin, mobilising and effectively utilising relevant external expertise, experience, and resources.  The immediate impetus, and initial point of focus, has been the escalating conflict in northern Ethiopia. 

Since November 2020, the Regional State of Tigray in Northern Ethiopia has been subjected to a savage military onslaught by a coalition of Ethiopian national army forces, Eritrean national forces, and Amhara militias.   Aerial bombardment, heavy artillery attacks and looting by ground forces have destroyed the social and economic infrastructure of the region, health facilities, factories, schools, and homesteads.  A vicious genocidal policy has been pursued, with extensive use of sexual violence, including mass rapes, and summary executions of men and boys. Mass starvation has been weaponised as a war strategy.

Despite mounting international condemnation, calls for an end to the fighting, withdrawal of Eritrean troops and Amhara militias, full access for humanitarian aid to all affected areas and national dialogue, proved all proved futile. 

Among the diaspora, familial and kinship ties, personal losses in the conflict, and shared culture and ethnic origin have engendered huge levels of anguish and anger, and a determination to engage directly in mobilising support to help meet the escalating humanitarian needs.  EARDA is one of the initiatives emerging from this determination.