Ethiopia is a country that has experienced more than its share of hardship. Now, once again, its people find themselves in dire straights. UNICEF is there, and we hope you can support our response to the current crisis.
The severe increase in global food prices and a terrible drought have left 126,000 children severely malnourished and up to 6 million children under-five in need of preventive health and nutrition interventions.
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| © UNICEF/ HQ08-0452/Grum Tegene |
| A severely malnourished child lies inside a tent, at a feeding centre on the grounds of Ropi Catholic Church, in Sirano District in Oromia Region. |
Droughts are particularly deadly in this country where 80 percent of the population lives off the land. Livestock has died, fertilizer is scarce, fuel prices are through the roof and an ongoing conflict in the Somali (Ogaden) Region is making it all worse. In short, people—especially children—are suffering.
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| © UNICEF/ HQ08-0429/Grum Tegene |
| A woman feeds her severely malnourished child therapeutic milk F75 at the UNICEF-supported feeding unit of Bissidimo Hospital, in the East Harerghe Zone of Oromia Region. The milk, rich in micronutrients, is the first phase of a feeding regimen – eight times daily – that helps the body recover from the shock of malnutrition and condition it to digest food. |
I've written before about the devastating effects of malnutrition on children. In Ethiopia, UNICEF is already getting therapeutic milk and the high protein nut spread, Plumpy'nut, to severely malnourished children. This past weekend, UNICEF Ethiopia received 90 metric tons of Plumpy Nut. However, as much as 1,800 tons are needed over the next three months. And that's just the beginning. Water, sanitation, health and nutrition programs are needed to help keep Ethiopia from spiraling towards disaster.
UNICEF is appealing for $50 million to dramatically scale-up our response to severe malnutrition in Ethiopia. We have to halt this crisis now. We hope you'll help us.