International aid agency Oxfam today (22 October 2009) called for a radical shake-up in the way the world deals with food crises in Ethiopia and beyond. The agency rounded on what it called a “knee-jerk reaction” to food crises which is dominated by sending food aid. While the agency recognised that sending food aid does save lives, the dominance of this approach fails to offer long-term solutions which would break these cyclical and chronic crises.
In a report, “Band Aids and Beyond”, published today to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Ethiopia famine, Oxfam says international donors need to adopt a new approach to humanitarian disasters which focuses on preparing communities to prevent and deal with disasters such as drought before they strike, rather than relying mainly on short-term emergency relief, such as imported food aid.
Twenty-five years ago Ethiopia was struck by one of the worst famines in its history. An estimated one million people died and millions more suffered from extreme hunger and malnutrition. Today, millions in Ethiopia and across East Africa are facing severe food and water shortages after years of poor rains. It is estimated that drought costs Ethiopia $1.1bn a year – almost eclipsing the total annual overseas assistance to the country.
Currently, 70 per cent of humanitarian aid to Ethiopia comes from the United States. Out of the $3.2 bn of US humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia since 1991, 94% has been in the form of food aid – almost all of it sourced from within the USA rather than purchased locally or regionally. Most US food aid has conditions applied to transport and packaging, which can cost up to $2 of US taxpayers’ money to deliver $1 of food aid.
Penny Lawrence, International Director for Oxfam, who has just returned from visiting Oxfam projects in Ethiopia, said:
“We cannot make the rains come, but there is much more that we can do to break the cycle of drought driven disaster in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Food aid offers temporary relief and has kept people alive in countless situations, but does not tackle the underlying causes that continue to make people vulnerable to disaster year-after-year.
“Donors need to shift their approach, and help to give communities the tools to tackle disasters before they strike. Drought does not need to mean hunger and destitution. If communities have irrigation for crops, grain stores, and wells to harvest rains then they can survive despite what the elements throw at them.”
It is essential that donors rise to the challenge and provide adequate funding for emergency assistance for this year’s crisis – current response by international donors is far below requirements estimated by Governments and UN agencies. But in this report, Oxfam argues that it is equally essential that donors do more to back programmes that manage the risk of the disaster before it strikes, such as early warning systems, creating stragetically positioned stockpiles of food, medicine and other items, and irrigation programmes.
For instance, in Somali region Oxfam is building birkhads, or protected wells, to enable communities to ‘harvest’ rain during the rainy season to make sure there is more water available nearby when the rains stop. These types of programmes receive just 0.14 per cent of overseas aid. Yet, the agency says, that it is a more sustainable approach, as the emergency response is designed to contribute to development and keep communities safer in the years to come. This approach is cost effective: for every $1 invested in this approach, $2-4 are returned in terms of avoided or reduced disaster impacts.
The call for donors to shift their approach comes as Ethiopia faces ever-greater threats from natural disasters. Climate scientists predict that by 2034, the 50th anniversary of the 1984 Ethiopia famine, what are now droughts will become the norm, hitting the region three years out of every four. A shift of approach is needed to prevent climate shocks developing into disasters which will push more peoople into poverty.
Lawrence said: “Climate change makes the urgency of this approach greater than ever before. Ethiopians on the frontline of climate change cannot wait another 25 years for common sense to become common practice.”
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I have no respect for any report coming out of Oxfam. This organization is responsible for much the grief Ethiopians are now facing. Twenty five years ago, this NGO started to work hand and glove with the TPLF rebels and is mainly responsible for the success of this group coming to power. Not only it channeled food aid to the rebels it was also at one point served as a spokesperson organization for this mafia group. The rebels are now the current dictators. To this day Oxfam never ever dared criticize this mafia/ethno-fascist group for their misguided land policy which is responsible for much of the famine now. Oxfam is now at it again suggesting "knee-jerking" strategy. The only knee-jerking its policy does is the poor farmers and peoples of Ethiopia. Oxfam in sheeps clothing. We were much better off before these "Lords of Poverty" showed up in our continent. The African people know all the tricks these NGO's play. The only ones who do not know are western taxpayers who dish out all the money (of which African people are not and never were a beneficiary no matter what they try to tell you). The only beneficiaries are executives of NGO's like Oxfam, their Western political backers and the dictators they installed on our head here in Africa. We haven't heard a word from the likes of Oxfam when the current Ethiopian government started to sell whatever little farm land it has to other nations despite the fact that Ethiopia has close to 17 million starving people. Spare us the crocodile tears on our behalf Oxfam!!
I have no respect for any report coming out of Oxfam. This organization is responsible for much the grief Ethiopians are now facing. Twenty five years ago, this NGO started to work hand and glove with the TPLF rebels and is mainly responsible for the success of this group coming to power. Not only it channeled food aid to the rebels it was also at one point served as a spokesperson organization for this mafia group. The rebels are now the current dictators. To this day Oxfam never ever dared criticize this mafia/ethno-fascist group for their misguided land policy which is responsible for much of the famine now. Oxfam is now at it again suggesting "knee-jerking" strategy. The only knee-jerking its policy does is the poor farmers and peoples of Ethiopia. Oxfam in sheeps clothing. We were much better off before these "Lords of Poverty" showed up in our continent. The African people know all the tricks these NGO's play. The only ones who do not know are western taxpayers who dish out all the money (of which African people are not and never were a beneficiary no matter what they try to tell you). The only beneficiaries are executives of NGO's like Oxfam, their Western political backers and the dictators they installed on our head here in Africa. We haven't heard a word from the likes of Oxfam when the current Ethiopian government started to sell whatever little farm land it has to other nations despite the fact that Ethiopia has close to 17 million starving people. Spare us the crocodile tears on our behalf Oxfam!!
To fight hunger all you need is willingness. Unfortunately War and Famine are great businesses and the ruling tyrant in Ethiopia starting from the years in the jungle fighting the DERG is known for cheating donors and accumulating wealth in the name of the millions who are starving and dying.
It is not possible to have sustainable development without a sustainable government. If you are really interested to fight poverty and famine say no to what you call "friendly tyrants" like Meles Zenawi.
Thank you.
I agree with the comments made by others. Shame on you on Ngos...like Oxfam...what are you talking about. You have been putting the same argument year after year. We Ethiopians and also the donors who are paying your salary are asking what you have been doing in the last 40 years...first with Mengistu then With Zenawi?
It sounds to me that you have done nothing..you have almost 12millions starving..there weren't that much in 1984..you have been there talking about, better equiped caltivations, storage etc etc I think it is about time for he west to re-evaluate the fundings of farming, malaria, etc..there is very little or no improvements...except for those distorted and manipulate research papaers and articles on the web and journals...who is reviewing them..God knows. thanx
I agree with the comments made by others. Shame on you on Ngos...like Oxfam...what are you talking about. You have been putting the same argument year after year. We Ethiopians and also the donors who are paying your salary are asking what you have been doing in the last 40 years...first with Mengistu then With Zenawi?
It sounds to me that you have done nothing..you have almost 12millions starving..there weren't that much in 1984..you have been there talking about, better equiped caltivations, storage etc etc I think it is about time for he west to re-evaluate the fundings of farming, malaria, etc..there is very little or no improvements...except for those distorted and manipulate research papaers and articles on the web and journals...who is reviewing them..God knows. thanx