The worst is over
They survived. The old woman is an example for this. The last drought period at the Horn of Africa was not the only one she has experienced in her long life but it was the worst. It shows. But there is also a relief that the new harvest yielded normal results.
After three months the aid project in the North of Ethiopia came to an end at the beginning of this year. More than 9,000 people were cared for by Nehemia over a period of three months. In the district of Endamehoni (700kms north of Addis Abeba) needy people in 18 villages received 500 tons of food. With the food rations they were able to survive.
The heartfelt “thank you” of the people who received help also goes to the NGO “humedica” who paid for the food. At the last distribution of food you could clearly sense relief whereas the first distribution was characterised by understandable “greed”. Young people believe in their future again.
The long way
- Clearly ravaged by hunger
This woman was one of the first recipients of our food relief program in Ethiopia. 300 selected people from the village of T/Haya were invited on 30th October 2011. From their area they have to walk about 15km to Maichew. On their trip back they carry 20 kg of food which will feed them a month. This program is initially planned for three months.
In Maichew about 6400 people from 13 villages in the area receive help. Another 2600 recipients live in five villages around Neksege which is located away from the main road, 38km away from Maichew.
- Generations wait for help
This family lives directly next to the store in Neksege. Grandmother, daughter and three grandchildren are waiting for the store to be supplied so that the food distribution can begin. But for this to happen small trucks have to transport 50 tons of food from Maichew over mountainous roads. Each trip of one of the trucks loaded with around 5 tons will take about one day: loading the truck, three hour journey for the 38 km, unloading and return journey.
The first distribution is planned for the second week in November. Then the faces of the people will brighten up again.
Second round
The second round in the food distribution programme in Djibouti is in full swing. Three hundred families receive monthly rations of staple foods. The programme is planned for four months to help the recipients through the most difficult time.
Help will be extended to other countries
We continue to extend our help. At the beginning of November starving people in Ethiopia will receive help. Together with partners and with the consent of the government we will supply food to nine thousand people in eighteen villages in the province of Tigray. This programme is also planned for four months. Both projects are supported by Humedica. AVC staff members will travel to the regions this month in order to coordinate the work.
Thank you for helping us to help others.
Hunger in East Africa
Incredible suffering
Sabir is a small place in the southwest corner of the state Djibouti, near the border to Ethiopia, about 150 km away from the capital. With Google Maps you will not be able to find this place. The people there are not in the limelight of the media, yet they too struggle to survive as a result of the drought. Their main livelihood – goats and camels – are in danger. Malnutrition is more the norm than the exception.
- Worst drought for 60 years
- Harvests destroyed – animals perished
- Children die in great numbers
First distribution in Djibouti
Nehemia - partner of humedica - has started to bring lifesaving goods to the people in rural areas of Djibouti – in cooperation with a local aid agency. Recipients are half nomads and settled people of the tribe of the Afar. At a first distribution in Sabir 70 families got help but the aim is to help 300 families in the next week or so. They receive supplementary diets for those chronically undernourished and staple food as well as articles of personal hygiene and clothes. Monthly distributions over the next three or four months are aimed at helping them to survive before the long awaited rain will alleviate the situation. Nehemia and humedica could provide this “first aid” in Djibouti thanks to generous donations from a radio fundriser.
- AVC/Nehemia provides aid...
- ... for 300 households
- ... with 2000 people
We are also grateful for the generous giving from our donors. While distributions in Djibouti are under way, Nehemia and its partners are trying to figure out how these people can be helped long term. An agricultural model project could be useful in future disaster situations.
We want to help also in other regions of East Africa - for example in Ethiopia and Tanzania where we want to help our long-standing partners to alleviate the suffering in their areas.
Thank you for helping us to help others.
- Grateful ...
- ... people leave
- „First aid“ has been provided
