East Africa Drought (Ethiopia) - World Vision Canada 2012

(December 2011) Ethiopia is still suffering from the effects of the worst drought in sixty years with an estimated 4.9 million people including more than 260 000 refugees requiring humanitarian assistance. In the worst-affected areas in the south and east of the country food insecurity and loss of livestock have led to high rates of acute malnutrition and the devastation of livelihoods particularly amongst pastoralist communities. In addition the influx of refugees fleeing conflict and famine in neighbouring Somalia has further strained the local capacity to weather the drought. With CIDA support World Vision Canada is providing life-saving assistance to an estimated 15 700 acutely malnourished children under 5 years old pregnant and lactating women and other vulnerable people in Arsi and North Shewa zones of Oromiya region Ethiopia. World Vision is helping to reduce acute malnutrition through a combination of supplementary and therapeutic feeding interventions as well as community outreach to help identify cases and increase local knowledge of proper treatment.

Expected Results Include: Improved nutritional status for an estimated 15 700 acutely malnourished children under 5 years old pregnant and lactating women and other vulnerable people in Arsi and North Shewa zones of Oromiya region Ethiopia. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.