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| People queue for water in drought-stricken Takizie, Ethiopia - © Jürgen Bätz, dpa |
The livestock have died and the seed grain has been eaten in many Ethiopian homes. The spectre of a famine like that of the 1980s looms in this country of almost 100 million. Up to a fifth are dependent on food aid, according to UN figures, and if the July rains fail, that number will soar.
Sekota, Ethiopia (dpa) - For two hours every morning Chekol Ayalew descends in her green plastic sandals through an arid and rocky landscape in northern Ethiopia to the nearest source of clean water.
Here she waits her turn for an hour before strapping the 20-litre cannister to her back and making the long trek home again. Sometimes she sends one of her girls to brave the heat to bring back the day's water for the entire family of nine children.
"Anyone who has water is happy," Ayalew says.
Ethiopians in their thousands are going hungry and without drinkable water in the worst drought for the past 30 years. It has not rained for almost two years in some parts, causing wells and streams to dry up. The drought is attributed to the El Nino phenomenon.
The cattle and donkeys have died, and the people have nothing in reserve. "We need aid to survive," Ayalew says.
A drive through the Amhara region to the north of Addis Ababa reveals deserted fields for hours on end. The wind blows up the dust as women and girls haul water containers home and children herd emaciated cattle and goats in search of grazing.
Collecting water is exhausting and takes hours out of the day. And it is usually left to the women and girls. "An increasing number of girls are unable to go to school for that reason," says aid official Edward Kibirige.
These girls then often marry young and have more children than they and their husbands can adequately care for. "It's a vicious circle," Kibirige says.
According to the United Nations, there are 2.3 million people dependent on food aid in Amhara, one of the worst affected regions.
Babies and children are worst hit. Saleegzer Amare weighed just 2.2 kilograms at three months, in contrast to up to 6 kilograms in prosperous countries.
"With our other children there was no food problem. The land was good and there was rain," says Ehitye Ashagre, a 28-year-old mother of four. She herself weighs just 40 kilograms, despite being tall. The family survives on just one meal a day.
"We've sold all our cows to get the children through, and we've eaten our seed grain out of desperation," Ashagre says.
She had to take Saleegzer to the clinic in the village of Galesod, where the severely malnourished baby was given special food for a week until its little body was able to digest normal food.
"Without this clinic my baby would be dead," Ashagre says.
The UN estimates that some 450,000 children are suffering the effects of malnourishment, while 2.2 million children and nursing mothers with milder symptoms can be helped with special food supplements.
In the 1980s, Ethiopia became a synonym for famine. Hundreds of thousands died and pictures of emaciated and apathetic people, and children with distended stomachs were beamed around the world.
In July 1985, the Live Aid concerts promoted by Irish singer turned philanthropist Bob Geldof brought famous artists onto stages in London and Philadelphia, as well as other events held around the world. Estimates of the amount raised vary widely, reaching well over 150 million dollars.
Ethiopia's communist military junta - known as the Derg - took much of the blame for the famine. Its leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam, was finally toppled in 1991.
The country has made advances since then as the government has tried to shake off the image of a famine-ridden basket case, although Ethiopia is still among the world's poorest 15 countries, according to UN indices.
The government, which appears reluctant to acknowledge the scale of the crisis, is providing food aid to 8 million people, but the UN sees a further 10 million as going hungry, bringing the total to almost a fifth of the population of close to 100 million.
More than 80 per cent live directly from the land, with most families farming less than one hectare. Hopes are now on the summer rainy season - or Kiremt - that should start next month. If they fail again, a devastating famine looms.
Aid organizations are distributing seed, as many families have been forced to eat theirs. The first harvest could come in September if all goes well.
Diarrhoea caused by poor quality drinking water is another serious problem that prevents children in particular from taking in the little food that is available.
"The children have diarrhoea ever week," says Fantanesu Tilahun, a 24-year-old mother of four. The well has run dry, and the locals are taking water out of the river, which has a reddish brown colour.
Tilahun says she does not boil the water, but fails to explain why. "I'm worried about my children's health, but what can I do?" she says. Read more here
Sekota, Ethiopia (dpa) - For two hours every morning Chekol Ayalew descends in her green plastic sandals through an arid and rocky landscape in northern Ethiopia to the nearest source of clean water.
Here she waits her turn for an hour before strapping the 20-litre cannister to her back and making the long trek home again. Sometimes she sends one of her girls to brave the heat to bring back the day's water for the entire family of nine children.
"Anyone who has water is happy," Ayalew says.
Ethiopians in their thousands are going hungry and without drinkable water in the worst drought for the past 30 years. It has not rained for almost two years in some parts, causing wells and streams to dry up. The drought is attributed to the El Nino phenomenon.
The cattle and donkeys have died, and the people have nothing in reserve. "We need aid to survive," Ayalew says.
A drive through the Amhara region to the north of Addis Ababa reveals deserted fields for hours on end. The wind blows up the dust as women and girls haul water containers home and children herd emaciated cattle and goats in search of grazing.
Collecting water is exhausting and takes hours out of the day. And it is usually left to the women and girls. "An increasing number of girls are unable to go to school for that reason," says aid official Edward Kibirige.
These girls then often marry young and have more children than they and their husbands can adequately care for. "It's a vicious circle," Kibirige says.
According to the United Nations, there are 2.3 million people dependent on food aid in Amhara, one of the worst affected regions.
Babies and children are worst hit. Saleegzer Amare weighed just 2.2 kilograms at three months, in contrast to up to 6 kilograms in prosperous countries.
"With our other children there was no food problem. The land was good and there was rain," says Ehitye Ashagre, a 28-year-old mother of four. She herself weighs just 40 kilograms, despite being tall. The family survives on just one meal a day.
"We've sold all our cows to get the children through, and we've eaten our seed grain out of desperation," Ashagre says.
She had to take Saleegzer to the clinic in the village of Galesod, where the severely malnourished baby was given special food for a week until its little body was able to digest normal food.
"Without this clinic my baby would be dead," Ashagre says.
The UN estimates that some 450,000 children are suffering the effects of malnourishment, while 2.2 million children and nursing mothers with milder symptoms can be helped with special food supplements.
In the 1980s, Ethiopia became a synonym for famine. Hundreds of thousands died and pictures of emaciated and apathetic people, and children with distended stomachs were beamed around the world.
In July 1985, the Live Aid concerts promoted by Irish singer turned philanthropist Bob Geldof brought famous artists onto stages in London and Philadelphia, as well as other events held around the world. Estimates of the amount raised vary widely, reaching well over 150 million dollars.
Ethiopia's communist military junta - known as the Derg - took much of the blame for the famine. Its leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam, was finally toppled in 1991.
The country has made advances since then as the government has tried to shake off the image of a famine-ridden basket case, although Ethiopia is still among the world's poorest 15 countries, according to UN indices.
The government, which appears reluctant to acknowledge the scale of the crisis, is providing food aid to 8 million people, but the UN sees a further 10 million as going hungry, bringing the total to almost a fifth of the population of close to 100 million.
More than 80 per cent live directly from the land, with most families farming less than one hectare. Hopes are now on the summer rainy season - or Kiremt - that should start next month. If they fail again, a devastating famine looms.
Aid organizations are distributing seed, as many families have been forced to eat theirs. The first harvest could come in September if all goes well.
Diarrhoea caused by poor quality drinking water is another serious problem that prevents children in particular from taking in the little food that is available.
"The children have diarrhoea ever week," says Fantanesu Tilahun, a 24-year-old mother of four. The well has run dry, and the locals are taking water out of the river, which has a reddish brown colour.
Tilahun says she does not boil the water, but fails to explain why. "I'm worried about my children's health, but what can I do?" she says. Read more here
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