Last Spring, Ethiopia was hit with severe food shortages resulting from flash flooding, clan fights, and steep increases in food prices. Food transporters suspended their services because of regional security concerns, thus preventing farmers from delivering their produce to those displaced by flooding.
FH Canada partnered with FH Ethiopia by raising funds in response to this emergency in Sasiga and Belo with a relief program planned to take place from May to September.
The Ethiopian government regulates relief programs by implementing the relief on a "round" (or phase) basis. All four rounds of distribution have been completed in Belo and one more round remains in Sasiga.
Haricot bean seeds were distributed to 526 households in Sasiga. The seeds appear to be germinating, and if the rain continues through October, the harvest has the potential to succeed, especially for the farmers without land in irrigated areas. If the rain stops early, though, it will affect the overall performance of the crop.
The food security situation for the two areas is generally in good condition. In October, some crops were ready for consumption. Drought still threatens the country, but these target areas will enjoy a successful harvest relative to the amount of rain as well as fertility of the land in the region. It is too early to say the harvest will be above average. There is early indication that the FH food aid program has successfully bridged the hunger period with the harvest season by providing food to those households who missed the crop growing season due to conflict.
In Sasiga there ended up being a little bit of extra food after the fifth round of distribution. FH is currently in discussions with the local government on how to best distribute those "extras."
