The belg rains are vital, contributing to 50 percent of crop production in some parts of Ethiopia. The long rains have also been greatly diminished the last three years as well. Ironically, if the rains do arrive on time this year, they may hamper relief operations, as many of Ethiopia's roads will be washed out. Fifteen years ago, more than 1 million people died because of the famine. Today, we can avoid another devastating situation if governments and non-governmental agencies working with the people of Ethiopia respond quickly and deliver on their pledges of assistance.
Promising news is that the current government is working with agencies to coordinate relief efforts.
In 1984, much of the information about the famine was hidden, and the world didn't know how bad the situation was until tens of thousands of people had already died. Food for the Hungry worked in South Gondar from April 1985 through September 1989, then later reentered the area in January 1992. The region suffers from inadequate and erratic rainfall and highly eroded soils. Even when rains came on time, families were only producing enough food to last for six months on average when FH entered the work zone with its programs. To cope with the lack of food, families are forced to cut back to one meal a day, sell assets or migrate.