From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Sep 23 2009 - 08:37:55 EDT
Three Million Children in Ethiopia Urgently Need Food amid Worst Crisis in
Decades
WESTPORT, Conn. (Sept. 22, 2009) — Persistent drought compounded by higher
than average food prices have created East Africa's worst food crisis in
decades. Millions of children face the greatest risks, including severe
malnutrition, disease, and death. But official food aid is falling well
short of increased needs, particularly in Ethiopia. Find out more about the
Child Hunger Crisis.
Across the Horn of Africa, an estimated 20 million people will need
emergency humanitarian assistance through the end of this year. In
comparison, last year – when drought, high food prices, and conflict were
also at issue – only 14 million needed such assistance in Ethiopia, Eritrea,
Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.
A child eating Plumpy'Nut in Bona, Ethiopia. Photo credit: Karen Beale
Nosterud 8/2008
"We've not seen a food crisis of this magnitude and severity in many years,
and it is children who will suffer the most if the world fails to respond
quickly," said Ned Olney, Save the Children's vice president for Global
Humanitarian Response.
"In Ethiopia, millions of subsistence farmers are dependent on weather
patterns they cannot control," he said. "Now their children face not only
hunger, but the increased vulnerability to deadly disease that accompanies
severe malnutrition. These kids need help now."
Cases of acute watery diarrhea are on the rise in Ethiopia, with 1,354 new
cases and three deaths reported in just one week this month. Meanwhile,
food aid is lagging behind greatly increased needs. The United Nations'
World Food Program estimates a current shortfall of $400 million worth of
food needed to reach hungry families in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian government estimates that 6.2 million people — half of them
children — will need emergency food aid in the next few months.
These needs are beyond those of the 8.2 million people in Ethiopia already
receiving food aid through the Productive Safety Net Program run by the
government together with Save the Children and other humanitarian agencies.
That program distributes food in exchange for community participation in
public works, such as road, water well, and school construction and
rehabilitation.
In response to the current crisis, Save the Children plans to distribute
food to 800,000 people in some of Ethiopia's hardest hit areas, and is
expanding emergency health and nutrition programs. These programs include
therapeutic feeding centers for severely malnourished children and
supplementary feeding programs for severely and moderately malnourished
children.
Sickness Worsens a Grave Situation
Save the Children is also developing and expanding water and sanitation
programs to reduce cases of acute diarrhea.
Additionally, the agency is working with refugee populations in the Somali
region, and plans to expand educational programs currently serving 4,500
children in the Boqolmayo refugee camp.
Save the Children also provides psychosocial counseling and health and
nutrition support as needed to unaccompanied children in the refugee camp.
With additional funds, the agency could expand services to help these
children reunite with their families.
Save the Children has worked in Ethiopia since the 1930s, and has had a
permanent program there since the 1970s. The agency responded to the food
crisis of 1984 and has continued to provide life-saving services in times of
severe food shortage.
Donate now to support Save the Children’s immediate and long term response
to the current child hunger crisis in countries around the world.
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and Save the Children
is dedicated to supporting long-term development projects to help families
and communities better support themselves. Programs include health care
interventions to reduce high rates of child mortality and HIV/AIDS
prevention and support programs. Save the Children also works closely with
pastoralist communities, providing alternative basic education for children
who cannot attend school, and livelihoods support so their parents need not
sell off their animals — often their only assets — during times of hardship.
Additional Resources
More information on the Child Hunger Crisis.
Save the Children's Ethiopia page.
Save the Children is the leading independent organization that creates
lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the
world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the
Children Alliance, a global network of 29 independent Save the Children
organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in
more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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