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June 12, 2008
Two failed rainy seasons, combined with the current global food crisis, have left millions in Ethiopia in urgent need.
The dire situation is causing widespread concern among the international community and aid agencies. According to the Ethiopian Government, almost 4.5 million people urgently need food aid.
“Failure of two consecutive rainy seasons has affected availability of food, water and pasture,” says World Vision New Zealand CEO Lisa Cescon.
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Millions of Ethiopians are at risk, according to the government. REUTERS/www.alernet.org
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“The global food crisis is compounding the problem, effectively robbing people of a back-up option,” she adds.
A leader in one of the affected villages explained the problem to World Vision recently: “Even with the hunger in 1985, we could go to the market and buy some food, but this time the prices are too high and people do not have money.”
In most communities, prices have risen by 50 per cent and livestock – a precious source of food and work – are dying of hunger, leaving pastoralists in the worrying position of dependence.
World Vision, with a long history of work in Ethiopia – especially in times of food shortages – is working to help more than 500,000 people recover and build up resilience to further food shortages.
There are already reports of children in the affected regions suffering devastating effects of the drought and food crisis; acute malnutrition, measles, acute watery diarrhoea and school dropouts. Some are even resorting to searching for wild leaves for food.
Although it’s the rainy season now, and those who can are planting for the next harvest, it won’t mature for months, meaning access to food (grain, blended food and oil), water and sanitation the most pressing concerns.
Call 0800 800 776 to donate to the Ethiopia food crisis, or to World Vision’s wider response to the Global Food Crisis.
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