Ethiopia: help for the drought affected

On the edge of the Afar plain you will meet a group of older men. Thin and drawn by hunger, they try in a field to collect the corn that they have planted last summer. But the result is frustrating, not even a third of the usual harvest has grown. Livestock has dropped dramatically and many cattle will not survive the next few months.

The persistent drought hits people in the Afar region particularly hard. Waterholes dry up quickly. To get enough water for their families and their animals, women and girls have to travel longer distances on foot. In doing so they expose themselves to dangers: Not infrequently the women are attacked and kidnapped in such ways.

Children are thirsty and hungry

Even children are particularly affected by the drought. About one third of the students are currently unable to attend classes. Those who come to class are partially malnourished and can hardly concentrate. Even so, students often have to spend hours running to fetch water for themselves, their families and the school.

This is how Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe helps

Together with our partner organization EOC-DIDAC, we secure drinking water access for nearly 2,900 people and their more than 500 animals from Chefa and Gorgo Zuria in Ankober. The project included the repair of four wells, as well as the founding and consultation of water management committees. The project was supplemented by educational measures on hygiene and water use with animal populations.

Hygiene training is vital

Especially the hygiene training is particularly important. As a result of the drought, the number of hygiene-related diseases, such as typhoid fever, has increased significantly. Many women use river water as drinking water without cooking it in advance.They don't know the connection between the diseases and the poor quality of the water.

Please continue your help so that we can continue our help in Ethiopia.

Thank you so much.

Yours

Michael Tuerk

Flowing heat, nothing but dust and stones as far as the eye can see. The highest temperatures in the world are regularly measured in Ethiopia. In many regions agriculture is hardly possible. The situation has further intensified due to the strong El Niño. In recent years precipitation has been very low during the short periods of the rain, some of which have been reduced by as much as 90%. This year too, millions of people in Ethiopia suffer hunger.

Contaminated water leads to diseases

The south of Ethiopia is severely affected by the consequences of the ongoing drought. The still available water sources threaten to dry under the persistent dryness. In order to get water for their families, the women have to go longer distances to the next well. 9.2 million people do not have access to clean drinking water.

In their distress, people drink the least available water, even if it is of low quality. Impurities and germs lead to the spread of infectious diseases, such as stomach and diarrheal diseases. These diseases are mainly life-threatening for children, old and weak. Since the beginning of the year, 36,000 cases have been registered in the south of the country alone. Many children also suffer from malnutrition.

Drinking water for the needy

In Dheka-Suftu, in the province of Liben in the south of the country, the Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, in cooperation with the "Rural Agency for Community Integrated Development and Assistance" (RACIDA), its partner organization on the ground, ensures access to drinking water for almost 3,800 people. In five districts, people receive 8.3 liters of water per person a day to overcome the drought. The project also includes the distribution of tablets for water treatment as well as training courses for the hygienic handling and maintenance of water sampling points.

Please support us furthermore so that we can help even more people.

Thank you so much!

Yours

Michael Tuerk