Ethiopia Drought - Livelihood Support - Save the Children 2017

September 2017 – While Ethiopia continues to struggle with meeting the residual humanitarian and recovery needs arising from the 2015-2016 El Niño-induced drought below average rains in the southern and eastern parts of the country have led to new symptoms of drought in these areas. Current assessments indicate that close to 10 million people require food assistance 300 000 children face acute malnutrition 9.2 million people are without safe drinking water and 2.4 million households need livestock support. With GAC support Save the Children is helping to improve food security and protect livelihoods for more than 12 000 vulnerable drought-affected people in the pastoralist population of Ethiopia’s Somali region. Activities include: (1) cash transfers to vulnerable households; and (2) distribution of fodder for livestock.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to food and essential non-food items; (2) improved access to fodder for livestock; and (3) reduced reliance on negative coping strategies to survive amongst drought-affected pastoralists in the Somali region of Ethiopia. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.