Addis Ababa, 26 November, 2015(WIC)– The Oromiya regional state disaster prevention and preparedness commission said about 997 589, 130 million birr budget is allocated to support drought affected areas.
Commissioner with the commission, Mekonnen Lenjisa, told WIC that adequate aid is provided for 2.9 million people who are victims of the drought caused by the effect of El-Niño in east and western hararghe, east and northern shewa, Bale and Borena of the Oromiya regional state.
According to Mekonnen, about 749, 190, 114 birr budget is allocated by the Oromiya regional state for sustainable protection of the people from the drought this budget year. The Federal government has allocated additional 248, 398, 216 million birr to support areas affected by the drought in the region.
So far 661, 517 quintals of crops, 54, 046 quintals pulses, 15, 690 quintals edible oil and 10 ,461 quintals of nutritious food is distributed in 5 rounds in the drought affected weredas of the region, he underscore.
The Commission provides 15 kilograms of crop, 1.5 kilogram of pulse, 450 grams of edible oil and 4.5 kilograms nutritious food per head to the drought victims in each round, Mekonen noted. The 6th round aid distribution has started in this week.
Furthermore, crop harvesting is being underway in areas not affected by the drought, Mekonnen reiterated.
The commission also is undertaking preparations to better withstand the drought in the future, said Mekonen. Part of the budget is allocated to supply potable water, seedling preparations, to purchase fodder for animals and feeding students in the schools and irrigation activities, he underlined.
The commission has exerted efforts to stave off the El-Niño effect in collaboration with stakeholders of the federal government, regional agriculture bureau, and education and health bureaus through addressing the challenges in all areas of the regional state.