Red Cross and Red Crescent expands appeal for drought-hit Ethiopia

Even in a normal year, Ethiopian households find it difficult to subsist. Any external shock, such as drought, can have a disproportionate impact on the population, pushing millions towards starvation. This year, the short mid-season Belg rains have again failed and the longer Meher rains arrived late or erratically.

Ms. Cecilia Brunnstrom, Head of the Federation's delegation in Ethiopia said that in many parts of the country, people are entirely dependent on these rains and that Ethiopia has had several consecutive years of drought, and people have few assets to fall back on," she said.

"Much of the harvest is doomed. Even drought-resistant cash crops have failed in some areas," she adds.

It is estimated that between 10 and 14 million Ethiopians will be in need of food aid next year," she said.

The Ethiopian Red Cross and the International Federation launched a preliminary appeal for 821,000 Swiss francs on 7 October to assist 35,000 people in the Ambassel region of South Wollo. The new appeal aims to extend the scope and geographic area of assistance.

The operation will include a package of interventions focussing on cash-for-work activities in South Wollo and direct food aid in West Harerghe. They will be supplemented by health/nutrition and water/sanitation activities, which will help to ensure sustainability beyond the end of the operation.

The cash-for-work schemes - which include environmental protection, securing water sources and sanitation projects - have proved popular in previous years. "The aim is to inject money into the economic system at the same time as we give people a choice in fulfilling their needs," Brunnstrom says.

The Ethiopian Red Cross and the International Federation are working in close coordination with the government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC), UN agencies and other humanitarian actors.

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