Ethiopia Drought – Nutrition Water Sanitation and Hygiene Response – Action Against Hunger 2018

March 2018 – Ethiopia is facing a fourth consecutive year of drought affecting large areas in the south and east of the country. Recent assessments indicate that almost 8 million people require emergency food assistance and 3.85 million children face acute malnutrition. More than 6 million people are without access to safe drinking water. The effects of the drought have exacerbated ethnic conflicts along the border between the Oromia and Somali regions displacing an estimated 1.5 million people over the past year. With GAC support Action Against Hunger is addressing the nutritional water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health needs of an estimated 70 000 people in the badly drought-affected Oromia and Somali regions of Ethiopia. Project activities include: (1) treatment for acute malnutrition; (2) improvement of safe water points; and (3) educational outreach regarding sound hygiene and child care practices.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced rates of acute malnutrition; (2) improved access to safe water and sanitation; and (3) improved knowledge of proper hygiene and child care practices. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.