Ethiopia food crisis: 4.6 million in need
20 June 2008
Millions of people in Ethiopia are in need of urgent food assistance as the country faces a serious food crisis. CARE International is reporting that recently failed rains, and rapidly rising food prices, have left millions of people unable to meet their immediate food needs and facing starvation.
In April 2008, a joint UN/Government of Ethiopia appeal was launched stating 2.18 million people were affected by the current drought. On June 12th 2008, the Government of Ethiopia has updated its numbers and its most recent appeal now includes 4.6 million people in need.
The situation in Ethiopia is not only due to the current drought but a combination of additional factors including dwindling natural resources and agricultural productivity due to the effects of climate change. Added to this is conflict related to natural resources like water; and the erosion of poor people’s capacity to cope with and recover from climatic shocks and droughts and floods occur with increasing intensity and frequency. For millions of people, there just isn’t food available, but in many cases even where food is for sale on local markets, the price is so exorbitant that poor people simply can’t afford to pay to make up for this shortfall.
UN figures show at least 75,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition and illness and that the crisis is not improving. The total food and non-food requirements needed to properly address the emergency have risen from £35 million in April to more than £170 million today.
CARE is currently expanding its life-saving feeding and nutrition interventions as well as expanding animal feed distribution, supporting the government in animal health and provision of veterinary services. We are also preparing to participate in targeted emergency food distribution.
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