Relief & Food-security Assistance

ACT member and implementing partner, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus –Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY DASSC) is planning to address the deteriorating food crisis affecting 8 - 10 million people at risk of malnutrition. The LWF/DWS Ethiopia program will informally support this Appeal and its implementation. Severe drought conditions, a late start to the Ethiopian government’s National Productive Safety Net Program to provide multi-year support to more than five million chronically food-insecure people, and inadequate resources to provide food and non-food assistance to 3.8 million food-insecure people, have combined to create an alarming situation.

While The Productive Safety Net Program is an important step, continued response to emergency conditions is critical to ensure the success of more development oriented programs. The program, which was meant to begin in January 2005, did not start until March in most areas of the country. Essentially, people targeted under the program have, in most cases, yet to receive the planned assistance and are now facing deteriorating health conditions. Women and children are especially vulnerable. Many of the chronically food-insecure people are now facing acute conditions.

Current figures indicate that 64% of food needs are pledged and only 22% of non-food needs. It must be noted, however, that this includes an unassured WFP pledge. With the number of people requiring assistance on the rise, the level of resources required is certain to increase significantly.

This Appeal includes food, non-food, and financial support to address current food shortage for six months (September 2005-February 2006) with an additional two months running costs for reporting, consolidation and rehabilitation inputs.

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Total Appeal Target: US$4,890,572
Plus: ACT Co-ordination/Communications US$10,000
Less: Pledges/Contr. Received: US$0
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 4,900,572

Signed by:

White Rakuba
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office