ABOUT THE CRISIS

In Ethiopia, the combination of the 2015-2016 El Nino phenomenon and the failure of spring and summer rains in 2016 has adversely affected the growth of crops which feed 80 to 85 per cent of the country. This lack of rainfall has caused widespread food insecurity with alarming rates of malnutrition and has had a devastating effect on livelihoods across six regions of the country. Some 8.2 million people are affected by the current droughts and an estimated 15 million will require food assistance if drought conditions continue.

THE DUTCH RELIEF ALLIANCE RESPONSE

The two Ethiopia Joint Responses have seen 11 Dutch NGOs work together to implement activities in response to urgent and critical humanitarian needs. The implementation period of the first response phase ran from 15 November 2015 till 15 May 2016. The second phase ran from 15 May till 15 December 2016. The project conducted humanitarian activities in four sectors: Food Security, Nutrition, WASH and Agriculture. The activities were implemented in affected areas across the country.

Within the category of Food Security we reached 295,434 people through activities including distribution of food supplies, cash or vouchers. Within the category of Nutrition we reached 81,443 people through activities including the establishment of outpatient and stabilisation centres.

Within the category of WASH we reached 622,531 people through activities including the distribution of water purification assets and the provision of emergency water trucks. Within the category of Agriculture we reached 55,000 people through activities including the distribution of seeds and fodder for livestock.