Women and girls carry burden of drought

Belanesh, 8, her twin brothers and their mother, Kabiwish, at Plan's food distribution point near Wondogenet in southern Ethiopia. Photo: Plan/Elias Asmare

Drought and critical food shortages are affecting millions of children and their families across Eastern Africa.

Last week Plan staff member Rose Foley visited a food distribution point in the Wondogenet area in Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR).

"Children and families living in the southern region of SNNPR are very resilient but they are facing huge and multiple challenges,"says Rose.

"The constant spectre of hunger is exacerbated by long-running droughts and ill-timed and erratic rainfall that can do more damage than good. A severe shortage of land to grow crops, soil erosion and even ethnic conflict have contributed to this year’s critical food shortage."

Rose met Kabiwish, 30, who had travelled to the distribution point with her daughter Belanesh, 8, and her twin babies in search of food.

"I am here because I am hungry," said Belanesh. "My father is very sick and can’t farm. The babies are not well. My mother is not able to feed them properly. I carry one for her, while she takes the other.

"They are quite heavy and they cry. My stomach feels empty. Sometimes I am quite sad as I’m hungry. But I am trying to help my mother. I am also getting sick. The babies are coughing – they are not well."

Kabiwish explained more about their situation, and the impact of the crisis on girls and women.

"There is no milk in the breast for my babies," she said. "I feel a lot on myself. I have to support my husband. I am ill from malaria, but I am in charge of finding food for the house.  There is so much more load on mothers and women. Women are more vulnerable in every way.

"We have to care for the family, and we do not have time to care for ourselves.  Look around here at this centre. There are no men here to collect food, just women with their children. As I am breastfeeding, it is even an extra responsibility.

"Plan is giving me some extra food, to try to make me healthy enough to feed my babies.”

Rose says that the extreme nature of the drought has been affecting the work that Plan has been doing in the country, and more support is needed.

"Plan has been working for years in the region to bolster communities against these multiple problems but currently the situation is dire and the immediate need is simply food," she says.

"Plan is distributing extra food to some of the most vulnerable children and their families in the Southern region of SNNPR.

"The supplies are especially nourishing and include milk-rich products, high-calorie oil and flour. They're designed to help fight malnutrition, especially in children under five and mothers who are breastfeeding – among the most vulnerable of the estimated 4.5 million people in Ethiopia alone who need food aid."

You can help children and families affected by the African food crisis – donate to the East Africa Drought Appeal now.