Relief & Food Security

In spite of the past and on-going efforts related to rehabilitation and development, millions continue to be food insecure in a number of areas of Ethiopia. This is primarily due to the poor rainfall and outbreaks of human and animal diseases in different areas of the country prone to chronic food deficits. The food security situation at the beginning of 2004 has somewhat improved, especially in highland crop producing areas due to satisfactory performance of the main rain season (meher), allowing a significant increase in production over the last drought year. However, the pockets of emergency remain, particularly in low land crop growing and pastoral areas. The UN sources estimate that food assistance is necessary for some 7.2 million people in Ethiopia.

ACT member Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) has been for two decades fully involved in relief and rehabilitation programs aimed at averting the protracting humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia.

Their humanitarian program for 2004/2005 seeks to tackle the food insecurity in the most vulnerable parts of Ethiopia by the following means:
- Provision of emergency relief food (grain and oil)
- Provision of rehabilitation inputs (seeds and tools)

For sake of brevity, this revised appeal includes only the proposal of EECMY. For the proposal of Ethiopia Orthodox Church, please refer to the original ACT appeal AFET41.

Project Completion Date: May 15, 2005

Thor-Arne Prois
Director, ACT Coordinating office