Temesgen, 7, and his family are suffering in Ethiopia’s food crisis. The children suffer from Kwashiorkor, a malnutrition disorder.
October 2nd, 2015
After two seasons of poor rains in Ethiopia, crops have stalled in their growth, seeds can’t germinate, and livestock are dying. The ongoing El Niño event threatens to keep the country too dry, well into 2016. About 4.5 million Ethiopians are suffering in the resulting food crisis, especially to the south, including the South Nation Nationality People and Oromia regions, where ChildFund operates. In our programme areas there, the drought has affected more than 211,000 people, including about 74,000 children.
Seven-year-old Temesgen’s family feels the shortage acutely. His mother, a day labourer, tells us that life is harsh right now. Usually, the family cultivates vegetables and false banana (a plant called Enset native to Ethiopia, often referred to as ‘false banana’ because of its resemblance to the actual banana plant) for their daily needs, but this year, due to the drought, they couldn’t plant, and now they’re struggling to purchase the food they need, as prices have risen and income has declined. “We eat only once a day — roasted chickpeas with coffee in the morning or baked false banana once a day — because we don’t have enough money to meet our family’s needs.”
She worries about her children, especially her 5-year-old daughter, who is in treatment for severe acute malnutrition, receiving care,hopefully early enough to prevent some of the more dire developmental delays that malnutrition can cause. Temesgen is in school and has support for his educational needs, but when he doesn’t have enough to eat, it is difficult to learn.
74,000 Children in the South Nation Nationality People & Oromia Regions where ChildFund operates,are in danger from a lack of available food
Temesgen, 7, and his family who are suffering the effects of malnutrition
ChildFund is working with the Ethiopian government and local partner organizations to respond to this slowly unfolding emergency, with a particular focus on pregnant and lactating mothers and the youngest children, who are most vulnerable but may fall outside of the emergency feeding efforts often offered through schools. Efforts are also under way in pastoralist areas to provide support for animal health, feeding and water.
The overall goals are to keep child mortality in check, help children stay in school and reduce the challenges of food insecurity among critically affected households. ChildFund will also invest in its ongoing programs in early childhood development, education, health, water and sanitation, child protection and economic strengthening so that the fragile developmental gains those areas have achieved are not lost.
Says Temesgen, “I will be very happy if I get enough food to eat and a ball to play with.”
We need to act now to protect children like Temesgen and his young siblings from the growing danger of malnutrition.
Please support ChildFund’s Ethiopia Appeal today, you can make a donation HERE.
Thank you!
ChildFund Ireland
