Ethiopia - Food and Nutrition Assistance - UNICEF 2016

October 2015 - The failure of the Belg short rains (February - April) across much of southern and eastern Ethiopia has caused the number of people requiring humanitarian food assistance to rise from 2.9 million in January to over 8.2 million in mid-October. Water and pasture shortages have led to decreased food production and deaths of livestock in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities. Malnutrition rates particularly amongst children are on the rise. Ethiopia is facing its worst food security crisis in decades with no improvement expected until late in 2016. With Canada’s support UNICEF is procuring and managing the common supply of therapeutic feeding commodities (fortified food commodities and drugs) for the community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) program. CMAM implemented by both government agencies and NGOs is expected to reach more than 18 000 severely malnourished children by the end of 2016.

The expected result for this project is the improved health and nutritional status of more than 18 000 severely malnourished children across Ethiopia. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.