Drought and Food Insecurity in Ethiopia
The humanitarian implications of the ongoing food security crisis in Ethiopia have been dire. Due to a combination of factors, including the delayed and partial or total failure of previous rainy seasons in many parts of the country the lives and livelihoods of millions of people are at risk. The current situation is primarily affecting those in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), Oromiya and Somali Regions. Food access is scarce, and the prospects seem high for total or partial crop failure the next season in 2011, while food prices and inflation in Ethiopia continue to increase and households’ purchasing power decreases and their asset bases are destroyed.
The crisis of food insecurity and recurrent drought has been rampant with peaks of extreme hunger and need since 2008. In April 2008, seeing the situation was quickly deteriorating on the ground, eight members of the Canadian Network of NGOs in Ethiopia (CANGO) formed an emergency relief consortium, led by CARE Ethiopia, to request support from CIDA/IHA. Soon after, a joint UN-OCHA/Government of Ethiopia appeal was launched stating 2.18 million people were affected by the drought and were in need of emergency food aid relief and nutrition support.
What CANGO achieved in consortium
CANGO was able to secure $500,000 from CIDA’s Humanitarian Assistance Branch that was implemented from August 2008-April 2009 for an emergency nutrition intervention to support ongoing relief efforts of CARE Ethiopia and FH Ethiopia.
Through the project, the CANGO members scaled up ongoing Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC) which is operating as part of the Government’s plan to roll out Outpatient Therapeutic Program and train 35,000 Health Extension Workers country wide. In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in West Hararghe and East Shewa, there was an urgent need to fill critical gaps in nutritional service provision. The table below shows the specific results achieved by partners in the project period.
Project Title – Drought Emergency Nutrition Response Project |
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Project Goal – To prevent deterioration in the nutritional status of children under five among the drought-affected populations in West Hararghe and East Shewa Zones. |
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Activities |
Beneficiaries |
Outputs |
Outcome |
Impact |
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Physical structures and equipment for 38 OTP and 4 SC provided or improved RUTF, additional supplies, and medicine purchased and delivered to OTP/SC sites on a regular basis as required |
3956 children < 5 years |
OTP sites are available and accessible to all beneficiaries on a weekly basis. SC sites were available for malnourished children with complications All OTP/SC sites equipped with necessary medicaments and supplies for malnourished cases |
Severely malnourished children received timely, adequate, and proper treatment |
Beneficiaries/Children admitted to the program recovered their nutritional status Health institutions become a model and are sustainable in malnutrition treatment |
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Training of health workers in CTC protocols and nutritional screening New and refresher training of CNVs in malnutrition detection and health and nutrition education |
139 Health workers 520 Community Nutrition Volunteers (CNVs) |
Centers are run by professional staffs that ensure adequate screening, treatment, etc. Key community members are mobilized and trained in malnutrition case finding and follow-up |
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Information dissemination to mothers and care takers regarding nutrition, child caring practices, hygiene and sanitation promotion |
3,956 mothers & caretakers |
Mothers and caretakers educated in proper child caring practices to prevent further childhood malnutrition |
Mothers and care takers improved on child caring practices and behaviors | |
We hope for the continued support of the international community in this emergency. Other CANGO members are also intervening for the continued emergency food security situation. According to the Government’s Humanitarian Requirements Document (Feb 2011) based on joint multi agency assessment results, over 2.8 million people will be in need of emergency support in 2011. CANGO believes that a coordinated approach to this response is the best way to save as many lives as possible.
For ongoing CANGO member Emergency Operations in Ethiopia through Canadian funding, please see the “Who What Where page” for visual mapping and full project details in the excel document.