In Ethiopia, life-saving biscuits fight hunger
To help drought-affected populations in southern Ethiopia, UNICEF is distributing high-energy biscuits funded by USAID
Southern Ethiopia is facing an almost unprecedented crisis caused by drought. The lack of water combined with a shortage of basic food supplies has led to an increased number of malnutrition cases in the Dassenech woreda (district), as reported by UNICEF Nutrition Officer Israel Alemayehu Tulu:
"Women and children are the first victims of the drought. People are losing their livelihoods, mainly their livestock, due to the lack of water. They have no choice but to leave their villages and move closer to the big cities, which have the advantage of offering essential services.”
"Without this help, I don't know what would have happened to us"
To assist the affected population, UNICEF, with financial support from USAID, launched in May 2022, large-scale distribution of high-energy biscuits, which are high in energy and protein, supplemented by a pre-mix of vitamins and minerals. These ready-to-eat foods are used to cover urgent needs in the acute phase of an emergency when the population is unable to cook due to a lack of access to basic facilities including drinking water, cooking equipment and others.
"The high-energy biscuits are providing nutritional assistance to nearly 15,000 drought-affected women and children in the Dassenech Woreda," says Israel. "The biscuits are being distributed in health facilities in the region and in internally displaced people's (IDP) camps. We are targeting children and pregnant and lactating women as a priority. The aim is to provide immediate assistance for a period of 15 days while waiting for more permanent food aid. By doing so, we hope to limit the increase in malnutrition.”
Malnutrition rates are increasing at an alarming rate due to the drought. In the four drought-affected regions, including the Dassenech woreda, an estimated 600,000 children will need to be treated for severe acute malnutrition by the end of the year. A situation that concerns Naomia, a pregnant woman and mother of two children under five years old:
"Because of the drought, we had nothing to eat, and nobody could help us. When I came to the health centre in Omorate, the health workers gave me a ration of biscuits for me and my children. They explained that this will help me survive for the next 15 days until the government launches the food aid programme in the area. Without this help, I don't know what would have happened to us.”
UNICEF is urging the international donor community to support its programmes to meet Ethiopia's emergency needs. UNICEF's appeal to respond to the drought in the affected areas of Ethiopia amounts to US$65 million, in addition to the overall humanitarian appeal of US$351 million. This specific funding will target more than 2 million vulnerable people in the Afar, Oromia, SNNPR and Somali regions.
