WaterAid's work helps tackle Ethiopia's worst drought in 60 years

19 August 2011

WaterAid is providing emergency aid in drought-stricken areas in Ethiopia, while also focusing work to provide sustainable water and sanitation facilities that will build resilience against future droughts.

The failure of seasonal rains in the Horn of Africa has depleted water sources, rendered pastures barren, and left livestock starving.

The widespread droughts are said to be the worst in 60 years, affecting more than 12 million people in the region, including 4.6 million in Ethiopia.

WaterAid is delivering life-saving clean water, safe toilets and hygiene education to almost 30,000 people living in the affected areas we work in across Ticho, Konso and Assosa. Without clean water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene practices, communities already made vulnerable by food shortages are also at risk of diarrhoeal diseases.

Meanwhile, WaterAid continues to maintain existing water and sanitation facilities and work on further long-term initiatives.

Marisa Okosho lives with his wife and two children in Sariti village where WaterAid is implementing water, sanitation and hygiene projects.

"The rain this year is not good so I don't have anything to harvest for the family. To support my family I have to register for support from the government. The problem now is shortage of food, but the existence of water and latrine near our village has given us the strength to fight back these challenges.

"Unlike previous years, we are not so weak and women don't have to travel long distances without having any food in their stomachs. The disease in the area has also reduced and children are not getting sick every time and we don't have to go to the clinic. Hopefully, in the future we will be strong enough to fight the drought."

Droughts are not uncommon in the region due to cyclical weather patterns and so it is vital that measures be taken to help communities withstand the devastating effects of drought to avoid similar disasters in the future.

WaterAid is focusing on developing facilities that are less reliant on rainfall and ensure lasting access to safe drinking water regardless of the climate.

Improved management of groundwater, for example, will be implemented in the targeted areas. Groundwater is recharged in different ways and therefore less impacted by rainfall than surface water sources. However, it is vital that its use is monitored and properly understood so as not to deplete resources.

WaterAid has also built a sand dam in Konso and plans to construct more in the country. Sand dams are built across a seasonal river; when seasonal rains fall, water collects behind the dam. With each rainfall the water stored increases.  The sand filters the water and slows evaporation. Clean water can be drawn for up to several months after the rains have stopped through pipes to a handpump. In this way, it can be used throughout the dry season.

Sand dams can be used to provide clean water for households as well as support livelihoods and agriculture.

Water and sanitation is closely linked to rural food security. Working with partners on the ground, WaterAid is also incorporating issues of nutrition and food security into our water and sanitation work as well as developing more small-scale water conservation structures to sustain livelihoods.

Effect on WaterAid's programme work

WaterAid's focus is on the provision of lasting water and sanitation facilities, and up to now, the technologies used in the areas affected by the droughts where we are working are still providing water. However, if the current situation worsens, the resources could run dry

People's priority during drought is on finding food, and therefore communities are less likely to contribute to the upkeep of water and sanitation facilities and unable to pay for water from the schemes, threatening their effectiveness and sustainability.

In Uganda where we also work, WaterAid water points continue to function effectively, although the northeastern programme areas have been somewhat affected by the lack of rainfall. WaterAid staff and partners are closely monitoring the situation to see if our short-term assistance is needed alongside our long-term projects.