Ethiopia

Urgent agricultural aid needed in Ethiopia to tame food crisis - FAO

People carry bags of relief grains at a camp for the Internally Displaced People in Adadle district in the Somali region, Ethiopia, on January 22, 2022. (Photo: Claire Nevill/WFP/Reuters)

By Hanifa Adan | Saturday, June 8, 2024

The FAO has issued a report that notes that 21.4 million people need humanitarian assistance while 13 million require urgent agricultural support, as the crises have exacerbated food insecurity.

Ethiopia, grappling with a series of devastating challenges, including climate-related disasters and an ongoing conflict, is in dire need of assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has said.

In its "Urgency of Humanitarian Agricultural Assistance" issued on Friday, the FAO said 21.4 million Ethiopians needed humanitarian assistance, while 13 million required urgent agricultural support.

Keep reading

It warned of severe consequences should the aid not come, as the crises have exacerbated food insecurity.

The agency said Ethiopia has been particularly vulnerable to climate-related shocks, with recent years marked by severe droughts in the south and southeast, as well as floods in the southern regions.

"Ethiopia faces a cascade of recurring shocks that have eroded people's capacity to cope and continue to engage in their livelihood activities," the report says.

"Climate-related shocks have left the country particularly vulnerable while struggling to recover from past events, including the worst drought in 40 years (2020-2023), that mainly affected southern and southeastern pastoral areas."

Ethiopia's struggle with famine is deeply entrenched in its history. The country has endured devastating famines, most notably the famine of 1983–1985, which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Despite strides in development and food security initiatives, Ethiopia remains susceptible to recurring shocks, leaving millions vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.

The recent conflict in the north has further compounded the crisis, displacing millions and disrupting livelihoods.

"Millions of people have been directly impacted, many of whom are still recovering from the conflict in the north. The combination of these extreme weather events, conflict and other shocks is deteriorating the food security situation in the country," states the report.

The FAO emphasised the importance of timely intervention to address these pressing challenges.

"There is a small window of opportunity. If households receive seeds and inputs on time, they will be able to plant between mid-June and end-July, depending on the agroecological zone and the type of crop. Any shortfall of rain will be supplemented by irrigation in areas where this is feasible," adds the report

The FAO called upon the global community to prioritise humanitarian assistance and work collaboratively to alleviate suffering and build resilience in Ethiopia and beyond.

"The assistance provided will enable households to produce enough food to sustain themselves for at least six months. Failure to act could result in a worsening food crisis, with the potential for peak food insecurity in late 2024 and into 2025."