by Ahmed Mohammed
Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) distributed water tankers and supplementary food aid worth of 621,395 birr to drought victims in different districts of North Shoa Zone of Amhara Region.
Emebet Dejene, a mother of five children from Efratana Gidim district said that the drought has caused acute food shortage to her family which particularly affected her children to become undernourished. “Therefore, the food aid from ERCS would be of vital importance in rehabilitating the risky health condition of her children,” she added.
Ato Solomon Manaye, Head at North Shewa Zone Disaster Prevention and Food Security Programms Coordination Bureau, said that the support of ERCS in response to the drought was very important to combat the water shortage. ERCS has provided 35 water tankers, each with the volume of 5000 liters. Moreover, the Society has distributed supplementary food aid in Efratana Gidim district to malnourished children and women.
Ato Zekarias Assefa, Head of Learning and Quality Assurance Office at ERCS on his part said that ERCS has been providing support to the drought victims mainly targeting children under five year, lactating and pregnant women in different areas affected by the drought. He also noted that the support is from the public to the drought victims as ERCS is owned by members and volunteers who are also part of the general public.
Ato Yigzaw Teshome, Head of ERCS, North Shewa Zonal Branch also indicated that in addition to the drought response, the Branch has been engaged in various community development works, including the construction of four public toilets worth of 600,000 birr serving more than 10,000 people.