Food Crisis in East Africa
Spotlight: Afar, Ethiopia
Drought, conflict and locusts
Severe drought brought on by climate change has devastated food and water supplies across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. The effects of climate change in the region have been exacerbated by armed conflict, huge plagues of locusts and COVID-19.
The war in Ukraine has added further pressure to the situation, increasing oil prices, food prices and the cost of living more generally. Diminished food resources threaten over 5.7 million lives.
Spotlight: Afar, Ethiopia
Amref is supporting people in Kilbet Rasu (Zone 2) in the Afar region of North-Eastern Ethiopia. In this hot and dry environment, seemingly incompatible with human life, the Afar people have lived for 2,500 years.
An ‘agropastoral’ community, they make a living by growing crops and raising livestock. This combination of droughts, locusts, rising costs, and conflict in bordering Tigray, now threaten to make the region truly uninhabitable.
Mothers are at the heart of Amref's response
If a woman suffers from malnutrition when pregnant or breastfeeding, it can cause irreversible damage to the baby’s physical and mental development.
In Afar, one third of breastfeeding women suffer from malnutrition, whilst more than half of children under five suffer from acute malnutrition. Many will not see their fifth birthday.
Support for up to 25,000 children in the region
In Afar, Amref has equipped health centres with the capacity to care for 25,000 children.
We’ve trained health workers in malnutrition screening and treatment, and supplied vital equipment – such as refrigerators for vaccines and medicines, and solar panels for electricity.
Fatuma at Amref's Talalak Health Centre in Afar
Like so many mothers experiencing drought, Fatuma had to watch her child go hungry.
“My daughter was malnourished and for 8 weeks they have been monitoring her here. It’s improving a lot. I am very happy that she can recover thanks to this service.”
Protecting communities from future food insecurity
Dr Negash, below, describes how his team collaborate with external partners – in sectors such as agriculture, women’s affairs, and microfinance – to help protect people from future extreme weather events.
Amref staff also coordinate with regional meteorology stations, to give farmers advance warning of upcoming weather patterns, helping ensure as much food as possible is stored in advance.
Afar, Ethiopia – in numbers
"People come from very, very far away to fetch water"
Dr Kasahun Negash
Food Security Specialist, Amref Ethiopia
Help mothers and young children who are at risk of starvation
Donate now"There wasn’t anything remaining... I don’t know how the people lived there."
Short term vs. long term
“There are two stages. First: survive. And the second stage is sustaining food security and nutrition security."
"As part of the programme in Afar, we organised cooperatives, and helped people to create their own businesses, to increase their income."
"We provided them with water pumps and seedlings so they can cultivate different types of vegetables – onions, cabbage, etc. – so they can eat a balanced diet."
Changing ancient eating habits
With a diet comprised mostly of milk and meat, and with cows in short supply, 3 in 4 children in Afar suffer from anaemia. It was clear to Dr Negash and his team that nutrition could be improved by diversifying diets and introducing new eating habits.
Prior to this project, eggs were not part of the traditional regional diet, in large part due to superstitious beliefs.
"We taught them the importance of eggs for young children and pregnant women. And they now eat eggs! This is a big achievement!"
These lifesaving interventions are only possible with the help of Amref’s supporters
Donate todayAll images © Martha Tadesse, Alexander Awoke, 2021