Food Crisis recovery in Ethiopia

Many thousands of people like Tuma and her family benefited from SCIAF's emergency response to the food crisis in Ethiopia last year. (photo: SCIAF)

SCIAF’s emergency response to the Ethiopian food crisis of last year is helping communities recover and prepare for the future.

Focusing on vulnerable areas in Borana, in the Oromia region, SCIAF's project aimed to protect lives and sustain the livestock of farmers.

This was done by increasing access to food and water, and improving crop production and the ability of communities to deal with drought.

Seeds, tools, training in water management and emergency preparedness, and the construction of water harvesting facilities and pond restoration benefitted tens of thousands of people.

Tume Gelgelo lives in the village of Maber-Miyo in Miyo district with her husband and five children. Tume and her family benefited from haricot bean seed distribution and a cash-for-work programme to restore the pond in her area which now provides a vital water supply. With the money Tume received she was able to buy 20kg of maize.

“Previously my family was between life and death. We had no seed to plant and we had no money at all.

"That was the reason why my husband had to migrate to a neighbouring town in Kenya to work as a labourer. Even then the money that he used to bring home was never enough. And it was never easy for the family to have him away from home most of the time.

Access to water, seeds and money mean that Tuma and her family can feed themselves and be more able to deal with drought in the future. (photo: SCIAF)

“Now I have harvested some 60kg of haricot bean. We have already consumed some of it. But, we have also managed to save some 30kg for a seed which will be enough for two consecutive upcoming haricot bean plantation seasons (September and March).

“The maize performed even better. We had to construct a new storage house for the maize and have enough for another two plantation seasons with a lot more remaining for household consumption.

“My husband returned from Kenya because it was not necessary for him to continue to be engaged in the labour activity since we are better-off now.

“This is a history for us. We have never been able to have plenty of food to consume in the house and at the same time manage to secure enough seed for the upcoming two plantation seasons. Now, the only thing that we look forward to receive is a good rain so that future harvests will be good and our life improves even further.”

SCIAF's work in Ethiopia is carried out with its sister agencies CAFOD and Trocaire from our joint office in the country's capital city Addis Ababa.

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SCIAF

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

Food Crisis recovery in Ethiopia