FAO welcomes UN CERF funding for drought response in Ethiopia
.JPG)
USD 2.5 million will improve access to livestock feed, water, and livestock health services in Oromia and Somali regions
Addis Ababa - The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UN CERF) has contributed USD 2.5 million to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s rapid drought response in Ethiopia. The interventions will benefit 50 000 households in the Oromia and Somali regions.
"The funds are timely and will be critical in saving livelihoods of the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities affected by drought," said Fatouma Seid, the FAO Representative in Ethiopia.
Interventions
FAO is providing supplementary animal feed, forage seeds, cash transfers, and training and extension services to pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. The Organization is also supporting water trucking, water point rehabilitation, and the vaccination and treatment of livestock.
Severe drought driving food insecurity and malnutrition
Parts of Oromia, Somali, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP) regions have experienced poor rainfall seasons since late 2020. The October-December 2021 Deyr/Hageya period was the third consecutive below-average season. The drought conditions have negatively affected pasture and water availability in the affected regions. Pasture shortages have compelled some pastoralists to travel longer distances or utilize different routes searching for available grazing land and water. This situation is likely to cause over usage of pasture capacity, triggering conflict and spreading animal diseases. Moreover, the capacity of the livestock extension system is also limited in the affected areas.
The food security situation in the affected regions continues to deteriorate, following severe harvest losses, poor livestock performance, and increasing cases of malnutrition. About six million people are experiencing food insecurity because of the drought.
Contact
Rachel Nandelenga
Communications Consultant
FAO Ethiopia