Addis Ababa, 26 November 2015 (WIC) – The Afar Regional State disclosed that it has allotted 130 million birr of its capital budget to curve the impact of climate change induced drought in the region.
Afar Region Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission Coordinator, Kalid Jemal, said the regional government has allotted 130 million birr of its capital budget to reduce the impact of drought in the region. Kalid told Walta that the region is supporting drought affected people via all means available in its capacity.
He also told Walta that the region has faced drought in 32 Woreda’s of five zones due to a climate change phenomenon called Eli Nino. A little over 774 thousand people and 1.76 million animals are exposed to the drought in the region, he noted. Out of the total number of people seeking food aid in the region, 213,312 people are receiving emergency aid in hospitals and make shift camps, he added.
Kalid noted that out of the total number of people seeking food aid in the region, a little over 562 thousand people were inculcated in the productive safety net program earlier to the drought. He said that 45 thousand children, lactating and pregnant women have received enriched food aid so far.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Pastoral Development has disclosed that the government has distributed 769,919 quintals of aid food in the region.
According to the Ministry’s Afar Regional State Directorate Director, Kiros Kassahun, the federal government has dispatched close to 760 thousand quintals of aid food while a little over 169 thousand quintal is in the pipeline. He added that the Ministry of Animal and Fish development also has deployed 20 thousand rolls of grass to safeguard the lives of animal in the region.
Based on information obtained from the region, NGOs and investors in the region are also lending their helping hand to the drought affected people. The people are receiving 15 kilograms of corn and 1 liter of oil per month per person. Those enrolled in the safety net program are receiving 3 kilograms of corn per the work they accomplish per day. So far, people have received food aid five times.