dry reservoir in Ethiopia

Overcoming Hunger in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia

Photo by Carlos Barrio/CRS

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Across the Tigray region of Ethiopia, local markets grapple with scarcity and rising prices, making it difficult for people to secure enough to eat.

“There is a shortage of food, and last year’s drought left us with almost nothing in the market. Barley, which was once available, is now scarce,” says Letay Gebregergis Gebremare, a mother who lives in Tigray’s Quiha village.

 

smiling woman at home holds wheat flour

Letay Gebregergis Gebremare, at home in her village in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, holds a handful of wheat flour, which is part of the assistance provided by CRS.

Photo by Carlos Barrio/CRS

 

The resilience of the community is put to the test as they navigate a harsh reality. Letay, like many other people across the region, face immense challenges. In the aftermath of the war that devastated Tigray, yet another drought is causing a shortage of food.

Letay lost her husband during the war, leaving her and her 17-year-old son to fend for themselves. Letay’s son left school to help support the family, driving a taxi to bring in needed income.

“My husband was with me three years ago. He was a driver for our livelihood. But now I'm alone. And I'm responsible also for my son.”

The onset of war in Tigray dramatically altered the lives of many families. Not long ago, they enjoyed stability and could adequately provide for their children and for themselves.

 

A reservoir in Tigray has dried up following a drought

A reservoir in Tigray has dried up following a drought.

Photo by Carlos Barrio/CRS

 

“It was good before the conflict, but after the conflict, I faced different challenges to the extent I migrated to my family, some 37 miles from here, in search of food,” says Letay.

In Ethiopia, more than half the population—approximately 15.8 million people—currently faces hunger. Nearly 4 million of them are in Tigray. The situation worsens as the country grapples with another escalating food security crisis. El Niño has led to drought in Tigray and other regions. Poor harvests and water shortages exacerbate the crisis, impacting millions of people and livestock. Malnutrition and disease outbreaks loom large.

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by Catholic Relief Services, the Joint Emergency Operation Program, or JEOP, is an emergency food assistance initiative aimed at addressing hunger and food insecurity among communities in different regions in Ethiopia. JEOP ensures timely and secure access to adequate nourishment for vulnerable families. It covers up to 33% of crisis-affected areas in five regions and one city administration. As one of Ethiopia’s primary food providers, JEOP swiftly responds to urgent food needs, providing a lifeline for families like Letay’s.

 

food project participant in Ethiopia facing camera

Letay Gebregergis Gebremare, at her home in Tigray, participates in a CRS-led emergency food project.

Photo by Carlos Barrio/CRS

 

After migrating to seek help from extended family, Letay returned home to receive support from CRS. Letay’s situation improved as a new, more transparent and accountable system was put in place by CRS to fairly support the people most in need—JEOP's vulnerability-based targeting approach. Letay now receives monthly food deliveries that include wheat, yellow split peas, and vegetable oil. These provisions have made a significant impact on her life.

“I started eating two or three times a day,” says Letay. “Before, I could only afford one meal, which left me weak and lethargic. Now, thanks to God, my health has improved. I can walk around and work.”

Since December 2023, JEOP has been assisting an average of 1.8 million of the most affected people with lifesaving food each month. In just one month, CRS and our partners provided families in the region with 28 tons of wheat, split peas and vegetable oil from the United States.

 

food aid in Ethiopia

Communities in Tigray receive food assistance from CRS and USAID.

Photo by Furtuna Kahsay/CRS

 

Through JEOP, CRS is working to provide hope and sustenance to families like Letay’s who are facing adversity in Ethiopia. Her resilience serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that compassion and collective action can make a difference even in the most challenging circumstances. By supporting families and individuals, we contribute to a brighter future for affected populations. Letay’s sentiment echoes the community’s moral principle of human strength and compassion.

“The majority of the problems in the community is the shortage of food as there was no harvest last time,” says Letay. “If you see someone, for instance, with a baby crying in need of feeding, you cannot be quiet. You have to give something from what you have. You have to share.”

 

The Joint Emergency Operation Program is a USAID-funded emergency food assistance initiative aimed at addressing transient food insecurity among households in designated USAID-approved districts in Ethiopia. It covers up to 33% of crisis-affected districts in five regions and one city administration. JEOP's purpose is to guarantee timely and secure access to suitable and ample nourishment for the most susceptible households in the specified communities. As one of Ethiopia's three primary food providers, JEOP promptly attends to the pressing food requirements of the most vulnerable populations.

 

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