ACT Appeal ETH161: EL Niño-induced drought Emergency Response

Since both the failed belg (small or spring) and meher (Big or summer) rains in 2015, over 10.2 million Ethiopians are in need of emergency aid.   The drought situation has now reached a very critical point with the small or belg rainy season just around the corner with no signs, however, of tell-tale signs of its impending arrival, raising deep concerns that the situation could get even worse for hundreds of thousands of people and livestock who are on the brink of starvation. If the current situation holds, the situation will be catastrophic.  The belg rains, a time for preparing the soil and sowing for a September/October harvest -- following the big rains in July/August -- are critical for most of the Ethiopian farmers who depend on and live off rain-fed agriculture.