Victims of conflict and drought amongst the most vulnerable in Ethiopia

In the last six months of the fiscal year, a total of 435,000 beneficiaries have received support from the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.

Of these, 240,000 were internally displaced people and conflict induced victims. The Society spent close to 78 million birr in providing emergency food and non-food items to support people affected by conflict and reoccurring instabilities throughout the country.

When conflict broke out in the area where she lived, Tigist Haro, a mother of six children, escaped the area with her family. “We fled our home only with our children. We did not take anything”, explained Tigist. “But the Red Cross came to us and gave us food, blankets and shelter. We might be in trouble of disease and hunger if it were not for the Red Cross supporting the community.”

People affected by drought and who are at high risk of food insecurity were also a priority group for ERCS. Approximately 170,000 people in areas like Wolayita, South Omo and Western Hararghe received assistance in the form of the installation of water pumps and catchments, as well as the distribution of livestock and seedlings.

Bona Wale, the community leader of the Hamer people in Aisle Kebele in South Omo stated, “By the result strong sun on our land brings drought to our community, kills animals and bring high degree of hunger to us… The Red Cross gave us goats, moringa plants and are now planning to drill a water hole. So they’ve done big things for the community.”

With continuing conflicts and droughts still plaguing the country, ERCS is providing ongoing assistance to those in urgent need. However, financial support from the public is required to continue to sustain these humanitarian activities and ERCS is calling on all individuals and corporate businesses to contribute what they can.