(Medeshi) 7 Aug, 2008The 4.6 million people in Ethiopia already facing drought and soaring food prices are today facing a new battle that threatens thousands of lives and livelihoods.
The rains have started and families should now be planting crops, but most have already been forced to eat or sell their seeds in order to survive. Concern Worldwide is warning they face a race against time to get seeds to thousands of families to enable them to plant crops and prevent further disaster.
"We have two weeks to get seeds to families in need," explains Concern Worldwide UK's Chief Executive, Lyndall Stein.
"Planting seeds now will mean families can grow a small but vital crop of food which will help them to bridge the hunger gap until the next full harvest. I have just come back from Ethiopia and I have seen the desperate struggle faced by so many families. Despite their resilience, drought and soaring food prices have simply engulfed the people of Ethiopia. Levels of malnutrition are rising and if we don't get seeds to people in the next two weeks they will be facing catastrophe."
Worst drought for years
This year has seen one of the worst droughts to affect Ethiopia for years. The February rains and the harvest failed - which millions of poor families rely upon for basic survival. Now over 4.6 million are in need of emergency assistance according to Government sources, and another 5.7 million people are at risk. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable - over 75,000 children are already suffering from acute malnutrition and these figures are rising daily.
Funds urgently needed
People across Ethiopia are eating just one meal a day, and face a very uncertain future if they are not able to take advantage of the arrival of the rains to plant crops. Concern is appealing for £700, 000 to provide vital seeds to 34,000 families in southern Ethiopia. A £20 donation will provide a family with short-cycle seeds such as haricot beans, sweet potatoes or lentils, to ensure they have a harvest in November.
The rains have started and families should now be planting crops, but most have already been forced to eat or sell their seeds in order to survive. Concern Worldwide is warning they face a race against time to get seeds to thousands of families to enable them to plant crops and prevent further disaster.
"We have two weeks to get seeds to families in need," explains Concern Worldwide UK's Chief Executive, Lyndall Stein.
"Planting seeds now will mean families can grow a small but vital crop of food which will help them to bridge the hunger gap until the next full harvest. I have just come back from Ethiopia and I have seen the desperate struggle faced by so many families. Despite their resilience, drought and soaring food prices have simply engulfed the people of Ethiopia. Levels of malnutrition are rising and if we don't get seeds to people in the next two weeks they will be facing catastrophe."
Worst drought for years
This year has seen one of the worst droughts to affect Ethiopia for years. The February rains and the harvest failed - which millions of poor families rely upon for basic survival. Now over 4.6 million are in need of emergency assistance according to Government sources, and another 5.7 million people are at risk. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable - over 75,000 children are already suffering from acute malnutrition and these figures are rising daily.
Funds urgently needed
People across Ethiopia are eating just one meal a day, and face a very uncertain future if they are not able to take advantage of the arrival of the rains to plant crops. Concern is appealing for £700, 000 to provide vital seeds to 34,000 families in southern Ethiopia. A £20 donation will provide a family with short-cycle seeds such as haricot beans, sweet potatoes or lentils, to ensure they have a harvest in November.
