Fleeing drought: A mother's story

With 23 heads of cattle lost, Amina Abdi, displaced mother of four, has experienced first-hand the devastating impacts of the severe drought in the Horn of Africa. "I am left with one cow which I pray survives," she tells.

People in the Somali region of Ethiopia are staring at severe hunger

2.3 million people in the Somali region of Ethiopia are staring at severe hunger as the cost of living skyrockets significantly. They have experienced successive failed rainy seasons, the destructive swarms of desert locust, coupled with the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the economy. The community in Fafan zone in Ethiopia is extremely vulnerable and is at the moment trying to cope with the severe drought that has killed most of their animals and is threatening human life.

"I was struggling to find food to my children"

Amina Abdi, a mother of four has experienced first-hand the devastating impacts of the severe drought in the Horn of Africa and especially in Fafan zone. She has lost 23 heads of cattle, her assets that she used to take care of her children and cater for her family bills. She only has one cow left that she hopes will survive albeit weak and malnourished. When we arrived, she had lost one cow and was severely devastated.

“As you can see, I am only left with one cow which I pray survives this drought, I am doing all I can to ensure she is well fed," says Amina as she looks down at her only remaining asset.

I was struggling to find food to feed my children even just for a day. I still get stressed when I think that there might be a day I may not be able to feed them.

Amina Abdi, mother of four children

DRC Danish Refugee Council support

In response to the needs, DRC Ethiopia has assisted 1,410 drought-affected households through Multipurpose cash assistance. The target areas were TuliGuled and Babile Woredas in Fafan zone with a focus on IDPs who were displaced from other zones in search of water and pasture for their livestock and food and clean water for themselves. The host community was also targeted as they were also affected by the additional burden due to the influx of displaced people and livestock.

Looking Up

Amina is among the 1,410 beneficiaries that received cash assistance. She used part of the cash to purchase fodder for her remaining cow.

“I am a relieved mother today courtesy of this cash transfer. I was struggling to find food to feed my children even just for a day. I still get stressed when I think that there might be a day I may not be able to feed them,” says Amina.

Standing in front of her humble shelter with cash in her hands, she looks out towards the field that is filled with animal carcasses and shakes her head forlornly.

Of all the droughts I have witnessed, I have never seen anything as severe and persistent as this. The cash assistance is a relief, however, we pray to Allah to save the situation.

Amina Abdi, mother of four children

We pray to Allah

“Of all the droughts I have witnessed, I have never seen anything as severe and persistent as this. The cash assistance is a relief, however, we pray to Allah to save the situation. With the situation currently, only Allah can rescue us,” she concludes.

Warning

DRC Ethiopia has warned that without an immediate scaling up of funds and humanitarian support, the situation will become a full-blown famine. DRC Ethiopia staff based in the field are reporting animals dying every day at a scale that has never been witnessed before.