Two million people in South Wollo are dependent on the belg rains for the production of short cycle crops and for planting the high yield, long maturing crops such as corn and sorghum in April. Successive failures of the rains have left dwindling stocks of food and rising levels of malnutrition among the farmers who've had to sell off livestock and other belongings to buy what food they can. Many have deserted the land in search of other sources of income and food. Nearly 140,000 people in Ambassel and Kutaber are now badly affected by the drought. The Red Cross will be helping the most vulnerable amongst them - the farmers.
Speed is of the essence if their lives are to be saved.
Funds raised for the appeal will help provide food rations for up to 15,500 farmers for eight months, supplementary feeding for 23,250 at-risk individuals including children under five, pregnant women and mothers with new born babies. The Red Cross will also initiate an employment generation scheme that will provide work for approximately 12,400 households. The money earned will enable the people to buy food on the open market. The International Federation, the ICRC and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies together constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.