Ethiopia is currently hosting thousands of Somali refugees that are fleeing famine and conflict in their own country, but in addition many Ethiopian communities suffering devastating impacts from the drought that is currently affecting the Horn of Africa and can’t be forgotten.

It is estimated that 4.5 million people in Ethiopia require emergency assistance due to food and water shortages, the death of livestock and the loss of livelihoods. Needs are critical in the eastern, southern and northern regions of the country and Caritas Ethiopia, which has long been helping communities cope with the effects of poor rains, is providing emergency relief to those areas.

With support from Development and Peace, Caritas Ethiopia is helping to alleviate the suffering of 65,000 vulnerable individuals.
Its program – which includes amongst other activities, the distribution of food, seeds and livestock, the trucking of water, treatment for malnutrition, the development of irrigation systems, farmer training, income-generating activities and the rehabilitation of boreholes – is aimed at reaching the most vulnerable households, particularly poor farmers, female-headed households, the elderly and sick, and the landless.

At this stage, activities will last until April 2012 and will cost an estimated $2 million. Development and Peace, which is the Canadian member of the Caritas Internationalis federation, is contributing $250,000 towards this program and will continue to support the needs of communities as they try to recover from this humanitarian crisis.

The Canadian Government has put in place a program to match donations for the Horn of Africa. For each dollar donated to Development and Peace by September 16th, the Canadian Government will place a matching dollar in its East Africa Relief Fund for the victims of this drought.

Donations can be made by telephone (1 888 234-8533), on our website www.devp.org or by sending a cheque made out to Development and Peace and indicating Horn of Africa Drought to:

Development and Peace
1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. West. 3rd Floor
Montreal QC H3G 1T7