Ethiopia Food Security and Nutrition Crisis - CARE Canada 2013

March 2013 - Despite the overall food security situation stabilizing in early 2012 up to 3.75 million people continued to require humanitarian support in Ethiopia. Estimates for 2013 are still being developed but it is expected many areas of the country will continue to experience high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition resulting from localized drought and/or low-level conflict in the south-eastern Somali region. In addition in 2012 over 85 000 refugees arrived in Ethiopia fleeing conflict in Somalia and South Sudan bringing the total refugee population in the country to more than 368 000. With Canadian support CARE is providing treatment for acute malnutrition for more than 40 000 vulnerable people suffering from the ongoing effects of drought and food insecurity and reducing the overall malnutrition rates in East Hararghe Zone Ethiopia.

Expected Results: working through Government of Ethiopia health posts in the target area CARE will: provide nutritional support and/or treatment for acute malnutrion to more than 40 000 people in vulnerable groups (including children under five years old pregnant and lactating women and people living with HIV/AIDS); and distribute essential household items to combat the spread of acute malnutrion and related illness including hygiene materials (soap and water treatment tablets) to 4 000 households and agricultural inputs (seeds and poultry) to 7 000 households. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people particularly women and children.