Ethiopia

In an Ethiopian camp, a mother feeds her weakened and malnourished child.

In Ethiopia, 6.4 million people now need urgent assistance. The spiking of fuel prices (which has increased global food prices), poor rains, drought and a shortage of major cereal crops have been contributors to this dire situation.

Crisis Facts:

• In most areas, food prices have shot up between 100% and 300%.
• Severe acute malnutrition is rising dramatically.
• The combination of overuse and climate change has resulted in highly degraded land in many regions in the Horn of Africa. In Ethiopia, where 80% of people live off the land, the drought is having disastrous consequences.
• Relief agencies are starting to report negative trends in areas where gains had previously been made. There have been dramatic increases in severe acute malnutrition amongst children. In some areas, acute malnutrition rates have soared to 16.7% - exceeding the emergency threshold of 15%.
• UNICEF estimates that 126,000 children are now in need of urgent therapeutic care.

World Vision in Ethiopia

Healthcare and nutrition in Ethiopia (1:11)

14 November 2008 Joseph Kamara gives an update on the impact of the Global Food Crisis on Ethiopia and World Vision's programming (2:04)

World Vision is providing support for 704,000 people through emergency food aid, supplementary feeding, treatment of the malnourished, water and sanitation assistance and seeds and farming equipment to enable production for next season.

Before the food crisis, World Vision was prioritising crop production and environmental projects, such as introducing drought tolerant and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. These innovative projects appear to have improved resilience to cope in some areas, but as one would expect, gains are being overwhelmed by the factors influencing price hikes.

Around 15% of World Vision's total programming area in Ethiopia has been affected by the crisis, predominately programs in the north and south. The impact on each area differs from severe to moderate, and the response need also varies. Some areas suffer from the lack of seeds (because stocks have been consumed, rather than saved for plantings); some need potable water; others need livestock protection and therapeutic feeding.

Letters have been sent to sponsors informing them of the situation in the area where their sponsored child lives. Affected children and families within our sponsorship programs are among those receiving aid. Please be assured that if we receive specific information concerning the wellbeing of individual sponsored children we will contact their sponsor as a matter of urgency.