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