# Ethiopia emergency hub: numbers, hospitals, embassies and what to do

> Emergency numbers, hospitals in Addis Ababa, how to reach your embassy, lost-passport steps, insurance steps and what to do during a communications shutdown.

Source: https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/ethiopia-emergency-contacts/
Language: en
Machine-readable index: https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/llms.txt

Save this page offline before you travel. Numbers and facilities change — confirm with your hotel, your insurer’s assistance line and your embassy. **Last checked: 2 November 2026.**

## Emergency numbers

| Service | Number |
| --- | --- |
| Police | 991 |
| Ambulance | 907 (the UK FCDO lists 907 for an ambulance) |
| Fire | 939 |

Directory sources disagree on some numbers and mobile coverage varies, so also save your hotel’s front-desk number and your insurer’s 24-hour assistance line. Do not rely on 911 or 112 working.

## Hospitals and medical care

The UK FCDO says only private hospitals in Addis Ababa offer a reasonable standard of basic care, and medical facilities outside the capital are extremely poor — carry a comprehensive medical pack when you leave Addis. Ask your hotel or insurer for a hospital that accepts your cover and call ahead; keep the receipts and medical notes. Medical evacuation is the cover that matters most: see the [insurance guide](https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/ethiopia-travel-insurance-guide/) and the [health guide](https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/ethiopia-vaccinations-malaria-health-guide/).

## Reaching your embassy

Find your embassy or consulate through your government’s travel pages: [US](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ethiopia.html), [UK](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ethiopia), [Canada](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/ethiopia). Register with your government’s traveller scheme if it has one. Dual nationals: the US warns embassy notification of an arrest can be delayed — see the [exit-ban and legal-risk guide](https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/ethiopia-exit-ban-legal-risk-travellers/).

## If you lose your passport

- Report it to the police and get a written report.
- Contact your embassy for an emergency travel document.
- Ask the Immigration and Citizenship Service about the exit formalities for your new document — an overstayed or unregistered visa can cause fines at the airport.
- Keep digital copies of your passport, visa and insurance in an offline folder.

## Insurance steps in an emergency

- Call the insurer’s 24-hour assistance line *first* for anything serious — many policies need pre-approval for evacuation.
- Keep every receipt, report and prescription.
- Note the region you are in: advisory-region exclusions can void cover.

## If communications are shut down

The US and others warn of internet and mobile disruptions during unrest. Before you go: download offline maps; share your itinerary and a check-in time with someone at home; carry enough cash for several days; note your hotel’s landline; consider a satellite messenger for remote trips; and agree a fallback meeting point. Our [eSIM and SIM guide](https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/ethiopia-esim-sim-guide/) covers backup data.

Print the [safety checklist](https://ethiopiaunlocked.com/downloads/) and keep it with your passport.