DRR IN
Ethiopia Ethiopia is plagued by significant rainfall deficit, particularly in pastoral areas of Eastern Ethiopia. Previous La-Ni単a events impacted negatively on the lives and livelihoods of communities in southern Ethiopia as drought conditions resulted in poor pasture regeneration. This has led to reduced livestock production and body condition and falling livestock prices. Water scarcities and increased internal livestock movement has multiple livelihood and food security implications in communities. These events have been linked with increasing disease prevalence and malnutrition rates, particularly amongst vulnerable populations, especially children, pregnant and lactating women and the elderly. According to Save the Children, Early Drought Alert, 2011, food security for the majority of regions in Ethiopia, will continue to decline. We have reached a critical period for intervention for preparedness and early response to prevent
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serious food insecurity and livelihood crisis. Previous responses to droughts in the country failed to mitigate impacts, preserve livelihoods assets and protect vulnerable population from food insecurity and its associated health and nutrition emergencies. The government has said that they will move from a reactive approach to drought to a proactive approach. Save the Children saw the dire need to intervene to ensure the protection of vulnerable populations. By protecting animal health and improving rangeland pastures and water supplies this would in turn protect the population. As droughts worsen, pastoralists move from place to place, trekking their animals hundreds of miles in search of adequate water and grazing land. Conflicts emerge as pressure to access resources increases. Water and food security can force schools to close and some households to withdraw children from school in order to assist in the household livelihood related work.