Project goal
The needy children under five years of age in the Mille district receive a nutritious supplementary food made from soy and grains to protect their health and their lives during the drought.
The project
Usually , Menschen für Menschen stands for innovative projects that aim to provide examples of exemplary "help for self-development". In times of need caused by drought, the foundation deviates from this guiding principle and provides humanitarian emergency aid against impending famine.
The example of Meirem Ali, 31, a mother of five children in the municipality of Adaytunaledi in the district of Mille, shows how life-threatening such droughts are. "I pray every day that it will rain again," said the mother in early January 2016. "One year ago we had ten cattle. Now we only have one cow left. All the others have starved and died of thirst. I am struggling to keep the last cow alive. I spend three hours every day on our donkey to fetch water from the nearest watering hole for our remaining goats and children." The animals no longer gave milk, and two-year-old son Abdu and four-year-old Halima suffered the most.
The food aid from Menschen für Menschen became a lifeline for Meirem Ali's family. In 2016, the foundation saved the health and lives of 6,000 children under the age of five in the Mille district, who suffered the most from the worst drought disaster in many decades.
For each child, the families received four and a half kilograms of Famix, a protein-rich powder made from soy and grain, and half a liter of cooking oil: As long as the seasonal rains failed to arrive, Menschen für Menschen continued its emergency aid. By the end of August, the foundation had distributed 158,400 kg of Famix and 17,600 liters of cooking oil.
There was some rainfall in the second half of the year. Thanks to the rains since April, the surviving goats had recovered and were producing milk again by August. This source of protein for the children meant that emergency aid could be stopped.
Menschen für Menschen only wants to provide emergency aid for as long as it is really necessary. The nomads should not get used to food deliveries and become dependent on them.
Unfortunately, forecasts indicate that various parts of Ethiopia will experience new droughts over the next few years. The foundation is in close contact with local partners and authorities so that it can provide emergency aid again at short notice if necessary.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
With the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations has formulated 17 goals for sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a roadmap for the future that enables a dignified life while preserving the natural foundations of life. With this project, we have contributed to achieving the following goals:
