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Children are some of the most at risk from starvation in Ethiopia, as the drought exacerbated by weather phenomenon El-Nino is causing further food shortages.
Global child rights charity, Plan UK is urging for more emergency aid as the drought shows little sign of improving.
Currently, more than 10 million people, 60% of whom are children and pregnant or lactating women, are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance.
An alarming 2.2 million children aged under five are malnourished. While more than 450,000 children are severely malnourished, requiring specialized nutrition interventions. Many are being removed from school as a result of inadequate nutrition and poor health.
Ethiopia, where more than 80% of the population live in rural areas and rely on rain-fed agriculture, continues to experience a potentially record-breaking El Niño induced drought. The drought is the nation's worst drought in 30 years.
A shortage of food and water has resulted in emergency levels of disease and malnutrition. Death of livestock is also widespread.
The drought is increasing the risk of water-related disease outbreaks, such as malaria, trachoma, scabies and diarrhea. These diseases are disproportionately affecting children under five.
Conditions are expected to deteriorate further following the failure of several seasonal rains.
“We have nothing to harvest this year because of the lack of rainfall for the last two years. We are living our lives with the support of the government and international aid organisations like Plan International Ethiopia,” says Semira, of Hawi Gudina District in the Oromia Region.
“My husband has nothing to do, he doesn’t have a job. We used to live through agriculture, we have no other means of income, but now nothing is in the ground because of the absence of rains.”
Legesse Daarsa from the Dara district, says: “I have six children. Two of them were in school. Now, none are able to go to school due to the drought. They have to stay at home as we have nothing to eat. My children are seriously affected by the drought. They are getting ill.”
Missing school will have a devastating impact on the futures and livelihoods of children.
Plan International is working closely with the Ethiopian government in responding to this worsening situation.
Country Director Manoj Kumar says: “Children are suffering from malnutrition, and require urgent assistance.”
“We are calling on governments and donors for emergency funding during this crisis.
“Each day without food assistance exponentially increases human suffering, lengthens the recovery period of affected people and puts increasing pressure on the humanitarian and development systems in place.”
Plan International is one of the world’s leading global children’s charities working on safe education, disaster relief and girls’ rights across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Plan is providing emergency nutrition and livelihood recovery responses, and has helped more than 35,000 children under five and more than 30,000 pregnant and lactating women.
For more information about Plan UK please call 0300 777 9777 or visit www.plan-uk.org
