Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic - The pleas of displaced people “people are dying from hunger”
Alemnew Mekonnen
September 18, 2024
Residents in various parts of Amhara Region report facing food grain shortages. The government has indicated it has faced distribution challenges. People are dying from hunger, it is said there are also IDPs who came to beg.
Among the IDP sites in Amhara Region, IDPs sheltered in Hayk town in South Wollo Zone report facing intense risk of hunger, they say it has been more than a month since they received any assistance, some IDPs even report going out to beg.
One IDP said IDPs are facing a significant challenges, and that 15 kilos of flour (ዱቄት) which was last delivered has since been exhausted. They said due to the lack of assistance some have resorted to begging.
Another IDP residing in a shelter called “Legeamara” in Mekane Selam town of South Wollo Zone said the situation has worsened and people have died from hunger.
The IDP explained there was no food and said people are suffering from hunger, cold weather and diseases, and according to this source in the past few days three IDPs died from hunger.
One source says they recieved 15 kilos of flour (ዱቄት) at the beginning of Nehase, and said they are now facing a severe problem as they had sold some of it for transportation and other needs and that they now face a severe food shortage.
One mother who was displaced from East Wollega with her 5 children told DW they were unable to care for her children, and she further explained that her husband who once did day work is now unable to work due to lack of jobs which has caused their household income to drastically decrease.
The South Wollo Zone Emergency and Food Security Office Head Ato Ali Sayed said they had requested grain assistance (የእርዳታ እህል) from the region but that they had not yet received a response.
The Amhara Region Emergency Prevention and Food Security Programs Coordinating Commission Early Warning Response Director Ato Birhanu Zewdu gave a response saying the number of charity organizations providing relief to people in shelters has decreased, he added there are no NGOs helping those residing with host communities, he further added that the government was filling in the gaps but that there were persisting problems with delivery of assistance.
He said efforts were underway to discuss the matter with relevant parties regarding the assistance distribution problem and ensure the assistance is delivered. According to the commission more than 2 million residents are in need of assistance as a result of natural and man-made problems in Amhara Region.
Alemnew Mekonnen
Mantegaftot Sileshi
Tsegaye Chanie
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