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Save the Children Responds to Severe Food Shortages in Ethiopia
Westport, Conn. (May 22, 2008) — More than 11 million children and families across Ethiopia are in desperate need of food resources, according to the United Nations. In the southern regions — the areas most severely affected by the food crisis — the number of children at risk of severe acute malnutrition is increasing rapidly. Resources for therapeutic and supplementary feeding are severely strained and stocks are limited. An estimated 120,000 children in the country have less than one month to live, according to UNICEF's latest report.
"We know from experience that chronic food shortages affect young children under the age of five most severely," said Ned Olney, Save the Children's vice president for international humanitarian response. "We are moving fast to provide urgently needed assistance to children at risk of weight loss, illness and the longer-term negative effects on their physical and cognitive growth. But, more resources are needed immediately from the world community to ensure that the most vulnerable children are protected from these negative impacts."
The ongoing food crisis in Ethiopia has been exacerbated by recent drought and rising food prices. Shortages of required medical provisions and gaps in response mechanisms have led to particularly challenging times for many children and families. Save the Children is working to provide additional nutritional support, community-based care, water and sanitation improvements, seed provisions, and emergency livestock interventions.
Save the Children has been working in Ethiopia since 1984. Save the Children is present throughout the country, implementing strategic programs in the area of food security, health and nutrition, HIV and AIDS and education. Its response to this impending emergency will build off its strengths in programming in remote and marginalized areas of the country.
Read more about our response to the global food crisis.
