THE CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS EMERGENCY APPEAL:
Ethiopia Drought
# 6460 for $100,000
November 27, 2002


SITUATION: Nearly 7 million Ethiopians are facing severe food shortages,
according to the Ethiopia Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention
Commission (DPPC), and the number may rise to about 10 million by early
2003. Increasing numbers of children are facing nutritional depletion. The
Ethiopian government is warning that if these shortages are not addressed,
Ethiopia could face a famine similar to that of 1984, which killed nearly
1 million people.

Drought is responsible for the food shortage; partial or total failure of
the so-called short rains in many areas aggravated the food security
problem. Longer rains came late and were erratic. In addition, some areas
have not recovered from the effect of the 1999/2000 drought. Also, CWS
partners in Ethiopia have reported massive loss of livestock recently.


RESPONSE: Church World Service is responding to the drought in Ethiopia
through two partners, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) and Norwegian
Church Aid.  These groups are working with a number of Protestant,
Catholic and Orthodox churches as part of a Joint Relief Partnership
(JRP); the partnership has long-time experience implementing relief and
rehabilitation activities in Ethiopia.

JRP members are operating in 24 woredas - or districts -- in Ethiopia for
the remainder of the year and are expected to continue working there until
July 2003.

JRP members have been working in the woredas for many years, working on
relief, rehabilitation and development programs. Emergency intervention in
these woredas are being integrated with the ongoing development programs
to increase community capacities and reduce their vulnerability to future
disaster.

The overall goal of the program is to ensure household access to food and
as a result, minimize the vulnerability to food insecurity.  Objectives
include preventing further declines in nutrition and preventing famine,
particularly among vulnerable groups, including children, women and the
elderly. It is also hoped that emergency measures will help prevent the
unusual migration of farmers in search of food.

The program will incorporate elements of direct food aid and assistance
for seeds, tools and livestock.

The EOC program is assisting 135,000 beneficiaries in direct food aid;
while 4,800 households will receive seeds and farm tools; 550 will receive
livestock.

The NCA program is assisting 195,400 beneficiaries in direct food aid,
while 12,120 will receive seeds and tools.

Budget includes $259,860 for rehabilitation assistance such as seeds, farm
stools, cattle, wells (EOC program); $167,000 in seeds, hand tools (NCA
program). Total budgets for respective programs: $529,590 (EOC);
$384,851 (NCA).

CWS-ERP is seeking $100,000 from its denominational members for this
appeal. For more specific information, including budget information,
contact CWS ERP. Or go to the ACT web site: www.act-intl.org


Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is
responding, contact CWS Emergency Response Telephone: (212) 870-3151.


Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail:   donnajderr@aol.com
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Web site: www.cwserp.org


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