Goat distribution in West Hararge Zone

With the support from Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) has distributed 2,510 goats worth USD 268,701 to improve household nutrition in West Hararge Zone of Oromia region, on September 23, 2020. One male goat is distributed to household, and most of them are women headed households.

QRCS and ERCS combat critical levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in areas inflicted by natural and manmade disasters that have provoked the internal displacement of people who left their assets behind and flee for their life, thus impairing their livelihood. Hosting communities also suffered similarly because of different calamities.

The support has come from QRCS who is addressing food insecurity to combat malnutrition in West Hararge. The goat distribution has targeted both the IDPs and host communities of the zone.

“This assistance is crucial particularly for the benefit of women and children nutrition security through the provision of meat,” says Mohammed Seid, ERCS West Hararge Zonal Branch Head. The head also said that ERCS further ensured that goats of good quality are distributed to the communities.

After receiving a goat, a mother of four, Mrs Haregwa Mengistu said, “Since I’m a daily laborer earning very low income, I couldn’t feed nutritious food to my family. We even don’t have food.”

Mrs. Desta Tafesse, another beneficiary and a mother of four too, said that the Red Cross support will provide her family with good nutrition help. Mrs. Desta thanked the Red Cross for supporting her family and enabling her children to survive.

QRCS National Program Manager, Mrs. Rawda Seman stated that efforts to distribute goats to vulnerable women and children would have a positive impact on beneficiaries’ nutritive boost.

It was learnt that Qatar Red Crescent Society is one of the strategic partners of ERCS working with ERCS for ten years since 2017 in resilience and emergency areas.