Ethiopia: Drought continues to threaten 9.7 million people

ESAT News (December 5, 2016)

Drought exacerbated by El Niño, combined with extensive flooding, disease outbreaks and the disruption of basic public services, continue to have a negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of 9.7 million Ethiopians, according to ReliefWeb, a humanitarian information source and a specialized digital service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“Urgent funding gaps for the response remain across multiple sectors to the end of 2016, notably for response to Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD), for interventions in animal health and food assistance,” the humanitarian office said.

Major funding requirements are already anticipated for early 2017, as there are concerning indications that the current negative Indian Ocean Dipole, may affect water availability, livestock body condition and Meher harvest performance in parts of southern and eastern Ethiopia, it said.

The office said $27 million is needed for immediate livestock interventions.