the drought in
East Africa
Senior Primary: 5th & 6th class Primary 6 & 7
Barey Mohamed Abdirahman and 2 year old Farhiya Adbi Billow at Trócaire’s Health Centre in Somalia.
East Africa At the age of 2, Abdi suffered from severe malnutrition. Food shortages made Abdi so weak that he could barely hold his head up. Abdi’s mother brought him to the Gedo Health Services Feeding Program supported by Trócaire, where he was given a peanut-based food known as ‘Plumpy Nut’ (see photo below).
This food offers a simple solution to severe malnutrition. Thanks to this support, Abdi’s health improved after just three months and each week health workers visit Abdi to check his progress.
Why in a world of plenty and in 2011 has this happened?
Where is east Africa? • What are the countries that make up east Africa? • According to the colours, which countries are most affected by the drought? The United Nations describes the drought as ‘the most severe food emergency in the world today, which has left over 12 million people across the region at risk of starvation’. • Divide into pairs and discuss what this statement means? • Look at a Trócaire Peters world map or google maps and find east Africa.
Data correct as of 26/08/11 from USAID/FEWS NET
Kenya
Data correct as of 26/08/11 from USAID/FEWS NET
Interesting facts
• Where are the worst affected areas of Kenya? • Look at a Trócaire Peters world map, how big is Ireland in comparison to Kenya?
Capital: Nairobi iswahili and more K , h is gl En e: ag gu n La languages than 50 indigenous fall and high in ra w lo y er V e: at m Cli temperatures. g communities in rm Fa : ed ct fe af st Wor n and north er th or n e th in ve li o wh d a few parts of an s ea ar l ra ru n er st ea wlands. the south eastern lo Trócaire works e: er h k or w ’s re ai óc Tr ns to respond to io at is n ga or l ca lo h wit animal and crop 00 ,0 18 of s d ee n e th these drought in s ie il m fa g in rm fa ya. affected areas of Ken
interesting re o m 3 d n fi u o y n a C facts about Kenya?
Ethiopia
Data correct as of 26/08/11 from USAID/FEWS NET
Interesting facts
• Where are the worst affected parts of Ethiopia? • Look at a Trócaire Peters world map, how big is Ireland in comparison to Ethiopia?
Capital: Addis Ababa is the official Language: Amharic another 80 language. There are . registered languages n and south Climate:North easter s have high eastern low lying area liable rainfall. re n u h it w s re u at er p tem south and south e h T : ed ct fe af st or W the country are of ts ar p l ra ru n er st ea s of the drought ct fe ef st or w e th g in feel Trócaire and its e: er h k or w ’s re ai óc Tr rming families fa 0 10 7, st si as s er tn par serving water, n co d an g in d vi ro p by helping farmers d an , od fo g n ti u ib tr dis d animals protect their crops an
interesting Can you find 3 more ? facts about Ethiopia
Somalia
Data correct as of 26/08/11 from USAID/FEWS NET
Interesting facts
• Where are the worst affected parts of Somalia? • Look at a Trócaire Peters world map, how big is Ireland in comparison to Somalia?
Capital: Mogadishu rabic, Italian, A i, al m So e: ag gu n La English & Swahili ch of the country u m , ry d y er V e: at m Cli in the mountainous in ra e m So t. er es d is ures are lower. at er p m te en h w th nor ars of fighting and ye 20 : ed ct fe af st or W e turned Somalia av h t gh u ro d t en u freq st humanitarian or w ’s ld or w e th to in ine has been m fa of e at st A . es is cr uthern Somalia. so of s ea ar in d re la dec is area: Trócaire th in k or w ’s re ai óc Tr in South west s er tn ar p h it w ks or w fe access to food, sa e d vi ro p to ia al m So d education for an re ca h lt ea h , er at w ost. those that need it m
interesting re o m 3 d n fi u o y n a C ? facts about Somalia
Hows and whys of the drought in east Africa
Divide into pairs and see if you can identify these images and what they represent?
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
Population growth
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
Population growth
Lack of rainfall
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
Climate change
Population growth
Lack of rainfall
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
Climate change
Population growth
Rising food prices
Lack of rainfall
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
Climate change
Population growth
Rising food prices
Lack of rainfall
Health care
The hows and whys explained Listen to EOGHAN explain the reasons behind the drought. Does he mention all of them?
What can you add to this based on the images below?
Poverty and inequality
Climate change
Population growth
Rising food prices
Lack of rainfall
Health care
Conflict
Effects of the drought Look at the photos below, what effects do you think they represent?
1
The River Kiero, which dried up in 2010.
2
Melvin Lokiru has him arm measured, the circumference is just 10cm.
Effects of the drought Look at the photos below, what effects do you think they represent?
3
4
A woman prepares to eat wild berries in northern Kenya.
Empty villages in northern Kenya.
Listen to CONOR and EOGHAN. Are there any other effects they mention?
Andrew Lodio – life without water or food “Hunger is everywhere,” says Andrew who lives in northern Kenya. “We last ate two days ago. It was just a small bit of maize ground down so we could share it with everybody. There is no future for us where we are because our animals have died. I had 150 goats before the drought but the drought finished them. I have only five left, but they will also die soon. There have been droughts here before but never like this one. This one is worse because it is all over the region. Normally if it is bad here we can go somewhere else, but now it is bad all over. There is nowhere to go.”
Andrew Lodio – life without water or food There are 500 people in Andrew’s village. Like millions across east Africa, they have no way to support themselves through the worst drought any of them can remember. It last rained in Lokitaung over one year ago, leaving the lands scorched and dry. The river which once flowed in this photo has completely dried-up.
Why is this drought unlike those that have happened previously in east Africa?
Meliti Dereya – the right to decide your own future “My name is Meliti Dereya, I am 15 years old. I have two brothers and one sister. I am the only child in my family who goes to school. My school is three hours from my village. I stay with relatives there during school days and I return home on weekends. I always get fascinated when I see an aeroplane flying. I want to be a pilot one day. “ Trócaire supports local partners to help build farmers’ resilience to drought. This is one such project in a very dry village in Ethiopia called Kadim. Elladu spring is on one of the mountains nearby, which people have to climb for several hours every day to get water. Trócaire, with the help of the community, are building structures that pulls the spring water down from the mountain (see photo). This includes a reservoir, water point for humans and troughs for animals.
Meliti Dereya – the right to decide your own future As the project is using community’s labour, it has been a source of income for people like Meliti. “Since school is closed, I am home. I work in this site for 20 birr a day. This project has supported me to get water nearby. Previously we could not get water even after travelling for hours. The cattle would smear the water with dirt and we couldn’t use it for ourselves. Now we get clean water. We also get money working here. But the water is more important.” • Look up the words in colour to find out their meaning • How have Trócaire helped improve Meliti’s situation?
Elizabeth Lomoe – How different it could be • Looking at the photos where do you think Elizabeth lives?
Elizabeth Lomoe – How different it could be • Looking at the photos where do you think Elizabeth lives? A small patch of land in the village of Nakwalekwi, northern Kenya, offers hope to east Africa. As 12 million people throughout the region suffer chronic food shortages brought about by the worst drought in living memory, the six families who farm the three acres of land here harvest food all year-round.
Maize, sorghum, green grams, cow peas, sugar cane and bananas – are all grown on the farm, as Elizabeth explains, “The food we grow feeds our families and whatever is left can be sold at the market.” The land that surrounds the farm is dry and completely barren.
The story of Elizabeth Lomoe – How different it could be In Nakwalekwi, irrigation is the answer to the drought problem. The farm is powered by a Trócaire-funded windmill irrigation system. This shows that the land in east Africa is fertile and is capable of growing enough food to sustain the population. The missing ingredient is the water that, without rain, only irrigation can provide. • Look up the words in colour to find out their meaning
What is Trócaire doing to help? East Africa is a focus point for Trócaire’s work. Trócaire have been working here for almost 40 years and have achieved this by working with local partners and the local community. Listen to EOGHAN and DAVID to find out what Trócaire is doing in east Africa. Listen to MAURICE (Humanitarian Manager) talk to RTÉ News about how Trócaire work in Somalia – he explains food vouchers and how working with the local community is essential for survival.
Name two ways Trócaire are helping those affected in each of the countries mentioned?
What can you do to help? Here are some ideas from Trócaire staff members
CONOR
DAVID
EOGHAN
Understand: Complete the WORKSHEET to check if you
understand the situation in east Africa. Also get involved in Trócaire’s Climate Change campaign: ‘Up to Us’. Our website will have further details and ideas for you to get involved.
Act: The situation in east Africa has been made worse as a result of
climate change. Now “Speak up and Speak out” about east Africa and climate change – we all have an important role to play in our planet’s success or failure so use your voice to tell others: do this in your school or in your community and use media to help spread your message.
Keep in touch Visit us on www.trocaire.org/education Trócaire wants to thank you for taking the time to learn about the situation in east Africa. We wish you every success in carrying out your ‘Speak up and speak out’ actions and would love for you to keep us updated on all of your efforts.
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Why not let us know who you are speaking to? We would love to see photos and read any articles about how you have spread the message about what is happening in east Africa and the effects of Climate Change on the region.
e Trócaire Centres: Maynooth Tel: (01) 505 3291 Email: mboyce@trocaire.ie
Northern Ireland Tel: (028) 90 808030 Email: infoni@trocaire.ie
Dublin Tel: (01) 874 3875 Email: resources@trocaire.ie
Cork Tel: (021) 427 5622 Email: corkinfo@trocaire.ie
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