Ethiopia: help for the drought affected

The current situation

At the edge of the Afar Plain you meet a group of older men. Thin and marked by hunger, they try to collect the maize they planted last summer in a field. But the result is frustrating, not even a third of the usual harvest has grown. Livestock numbers have fallen dramatically and many cattle will not survive for the next few months. Clemens von Heimendahl, Head of the Regional Office Africa, was there to get an overview of the situation in talks with those affected.

Following the repeated lack of rainfall in some regions of Ethiopia, the food situation in the East African country has deteriorated dramatically. A network against famine has published an early warning and analysis on food insecurity, according to which some 5.5 million people will urgently need humanitarian aid between February and May 2018. Residents in the southern and south-eastern regions of the country are particularly affected. To get water for their families, women have to travel extremely long distances to the nearest well. The water sources still available are threatening to dry up under the persistent drought. In addition, the quality of the water has steadily decreased.

Relief measures
The project contributes to the survival of families affected by the drought. For example, 3,708 families, around 22,248 people, will receive drinking water and water treatment tablets for two months. Each person spends 7.6 litres of water per day, which corresponds to international standards. The distributions will take place in seven districts of the Dheka-Suftu district in the south of the country: Qansah-dere, Dungoya, Bundaqaran, Waradey, Bur-Alan, Hareriga faratada and Awbare.

So please support our work in Ethiopia with your donations. It's so important also against the background of the low media attention regarding the hunger and thirst-situation in East Africa.

Thank you so much, yours

Michael Tuerk