$21 million in aid urgently needed to help children in drought-stricken Ethiopia
RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A severe shortfall in aid funding is putting thousands of children at
risk in Ethiopia as the country deals with its worst drought emergency
in decades. The drought and resulting food shortage are expected to
continue well into 2016. ChildFund International is in urgent need of
millions of dollars in additional funding to provide emergency food
rations for 300,000 people over the next six months.
Ethiopia has faced two consecutive seasons of failed rains. This El
Niño-induced drought led the Ethiopian government to declare in December
2015 that 10.2 million people would require emergency humanitarian
assistance in 20161. This includes 435,000 children suffering
from Severe Acute Malnutrition and 1 million children with Moderate
Acute Malnutrition. Despite the concerted effort already underway by the
government of Ethiopia, UN agencies and NGOs to mitigate the impact of
the drought, the scale of the emergency exceeds resources currently
available.
More than $21 million is needed to provide a six-month supply of
emergency food rations to 300,000 people in the eight districts in
Ethiopia where ChildFund works. The funding will cover the purchase of
grain, legumes and oils, and transport costs for those at risk. Of the
$21 million, $5 million will provide supplementary food for the 100,000
who are the most vulnerable: children under the age of five, pregnant
and lactating women, and the elderly.
“The ongoing drought in Ethiopia is one of the greatest challenges we
currently face,” said ChildFund International President Anne Lynam
Goddard. “The government of Ethiopia has worked very hard to build the
nation’s economy and infrastructure, but we must provide additional
assistance now to ensure the drought does not reverse the efforts made
to provide children in Ethiopia with the best possible start in life.”
Donations to support ChildFund International’s work in combating the
crisis in Ethiopia can be made by visiting www.childfund.org/ethiopiacrisis.
ChildFund International is a global child development and protection
organization serving 19.7 million children and family members in 30
countries. For more than 75 years, we have helped the world’s deprived,
excluded and vulnerable children survive and thrive to reach their full
potential and become leaders of enduring change. As a member of
ChildFund Alliance, we create supportive environments in which children
can flourish. For more information, visit www.ChildFund.org.
1 Government of Ethiopia and Humanitarian Partners,
“Humanitarian Requirements Document 2016” (December 2015).
Contacts
ChildFund International
Betsy Wells Edwards, 804-756-2722
bedwards@childfund.org
