Hunger crisis in Africa

Lilian lives in northern Uganda. Life in the once fertile region is getting
harder and harder: it rains less, droughts are more frequent. "We no longer 
know when to sow seeds," complains the mother of four. "If it doesn't rain, the 
seeds in the ground wither."

Living with climate change in the long term
Climate change and its consequences can be clearly felt in East Africa. With 
devastating consequences for agriculture and the food situation of the people.

One of our alliance organizations, Malteser International, is therefore not only 
involved in acute emergency aid, such as the distribution of animal feed, water, 
cash and food for families affected by the drought. The aim of the aid is also to 
offer people long-term prospects in an increasingly difficult living environment.

Protect natural resources
An important building block is the reforestation of destroyed forest areas. There 
used to be a lot of trees in Arua district. Bush fires and the intensive use of 
wood for people's daily needs have almost destroyed the stock. Two-thirds of the 
forest area in northern Uganda has been destroyed in the past 25 years.
"We were initially faced with the question: how can we protect the environment and 
natural resources while helping the people who depend on the resources?" says 
Julius Kijali, Malteser International's project manager in Uganda and an expert on 
reforestation.
"After all, we have a humanitarian mission. However, protecting resources and 
improving people's prospects go hand in hand. Only if we protect ecosystems will 
people have a chance of a better future in the long term."

Uganda: 90 hectares of new forest
Together with several local partner organizations, Kijali and his team reforested 
an area of 90 hectares of forest - an area the size of 68 soccer fields. In 
addition, they trained smallholders in sustainable forestry and agriculture and 
trained young people in the operation of tree nurseries in order to give them 
career prospects.

Now the young people help with the care of the areas and take care of the 
replanting. More than 300,000 seedlings, including teak, neem, gmelina, moringa 
and clone tree species, whose roots can keep sprouting new trunks even if the tree 
dies.

Seedlings are monitored by GPS
In order to monitor the growth of the replanting and to protect the young trees 
from further felling, the seedlings are monitored via GPS.

If a tree does not develop healthy, the small farmers responsible for the tree 
are informed and take care of appropriate treatment. In return, they receive a 
small amount of money for each tree directly on their smartphone.

New source of income for families
In addition to reforestation, Malteser International has planted fields and 
vegetable gardens and distributed around 4,000 fruit tree seedlings – bananas, 
passion fruit, guava and papaya – to families in Arua district so that they can 
improve their fresh fruit diets.

Lilian has also received mangoes and aubergines and has already been able 
to harvest the first fruits: "I was able to sell a few fruits and use the proceeds
to pay for soap, salt and school fees," she says.

Better air and cleaner water
Kijali looks at the project with satisfaction and is sure that all the trees 
planted will significantly improve the future of the region: "Trees are a miracle. 
The afforestation will do so much: The ecosystem as a whole will improve in the 
region. That means that we will have better air here.

The trees also have a positive effect on the groundwater level. They provide shade
for people. Soil erosion is reduced and at the same time we create a good 
microclimate for plants so that they can thrive better. This also improves 
people's livelihoods."

Thank you for your help!