People in parts of Ethiopia are walking for two days to get water for their families and animals as the country suffers its worst drought in 30 years.
In Siti zone in the east of the country, many people have told Oxfam that they are dependent on food aid to survive, but some are sharing this with their sheep and goats in a desperate attempt to keep their animals alive as well.
The Ethiopian Government estimates that 10.2 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, at a cost of US $1.4 billion. The El Niño weather system, on the back of 12 to 18 months of erratic or failed rains, has caused the worst drought in Ethiopia since the mid-1980s.
Dr Helen Szoke, Oxfam Australia’s Chief Executive, said: “People are watching their crops wither and their animals starve to death, all the while knowing they don’t have enough food and water themselves. The Ethiopian Government is doing its best but the scale of the problem requires urgent and significant additional funding from donors to complement the government’s efforts. It’s been clear for months that this drought would have a devastating effect on Ethiopia. More needs to be done to help the country cope.”
Oxfam has helped over 160,000 people in three areas of the country by trucking in water, repairing boreholes and wells, and giving out animal feed for livestock. The aid agency is planning to reach 777,000 people but needs US$25 million (AU$35 million) to do so.
Ethiopia’s ‘belg’ rains are due to begin in a couple of months but even if normal rainfall occurs, it will take time for people to replenish their herds and cultivate crops.
Fatuma Hersi used to have a herd of 300 sheep and goats, of which just seven remain. The mother of eight, who is now seeking help at a site for internally displaced people in Siti, said: “There have been other droughts. But this one is the worst I have seen. We are here waiting for support.”
Ethiopia is one of a number of countries struggling to cope with the effects of one of the strongest El Niños on record. Along with food shortages in southern Africa, the Pacific and Central America, it has also caused floods in Paraguay and Bolivia.
El Niño is a natural phenomenon that occurs periodically. Although it is not directly caused by climate change, global warming makes it more likely that strong El Niños will develop. And in turn, El Niños involve the release of a large amount of heat from the Pacific Ocean, exacerbating climate change.
Any short-term response to assist those left hungry by this year’s El Niño also needs to be matched with medium and long-term support to tackle climate change, which makes super El Niños more likely.
To find out more about how to support Oxfam’s work on emergencies around the world, go to:
https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-we-do/emergencies/learn-about-current-emergencies/ethiopia-drought/
For interviews please contact Angus Hohenboken on 0428 367 318 or angush@oxfam.org.au
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