Ethiopian Red Cross Society distributes supplementary food In Hamer Woreda

Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) has distributed 82,475 kilos of supplementary food and 13194 liters of edible oil to drought affected communities in Hamer Woreda, South Omo zone. The distribution, done in collaboration with Spanish Red Cross, benefited a total of 4396 drought affected children under five age, pregnant and lactating women among the community. Most of the beneficiaries and stakeholders engaged in the distribution appreciated the Society’s auxiliary role to support the government’s effort in emergency responses.

Gule Algo, 45, a mother of five from Golakebele said that they lost their animals because of the drought. This led her entire family malnourished so that they came to receive supplementary food aid from the Red Cross, she said. Bola Kala, 68 and father of 15, also lost a number of hiscows and goats which resulted insevere water and food shortage to his family. After receiving supplementary food aid and edible oil, he said that “this is very important and we hope that Red Cross will continue to support us until we rehabilitate from the drought”.

ERCS South Omo Zone Branch Head, Akena Akta said that the first round supplementary food and oil distribution to the 3 kebeles of Hamer woreda will sustain them for the coming three months. In addition to this support, we are also working to distribute clean water to the community, he added.

In 2017 alone ERCS, its Movement partners, and local and international supporters provided food and non-food item supports to more than 1million drought affected people with a cost of over 100 million birr.