Save the Children Canada

Published purpose

(December 2011) Ethiopia is still suffering from the effects of the worst drought in sixty years, with an estimated 4.9 million people, including more than 260,000 refugees, requiring humanitarian assistance. In the worst-affected areas, in the south and east of the country, food insecurity and loss of livestock have led to high rates of acute malnutrition and the devastation of livelihoods, particularly amongst pastoralist communities. In addition, the influx of refugees fleeing conflict and famine in neighbouring Somalia has further strained the local capacity to weather the drought. With CIDA's support, Save the Children Canada (SCC) is meeting the humanitarian medical and water and sanitation needs of an estimated 148,000 people in drought-affected pastoralist communities in the north-eastern Afar region of Ethiopia. Through its support to eight health centres, including the supply of necessary medicine and equipment and the improvement of water and sanitation facilities, SC is helping to save lives and prevent the spread of disease. Its rehabilitation of water points and improvement of water management practices throughout the beneficiary communities will further ensure improved access to safe water, protecting both lives and livelihoods.