“Bugna Woreda in North Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, has become a grim focal point of intersecting crises.With over 10,000 residents, including children under five, facing severe food shortages, the impacts of both conflict and natural disasters have deepened a growing humanitarian emergency. According to Ato Gebremeskel Alemu, head of the Bugna Woreda Health Protection Office, the dual factors of conflict and erratic rainfall have created a dire situation. ” https://eastafricanreview.com/2024/12/20/the-silent-crisis-famine-in-ethiopias-amhara-region/
Structural Failures
“The crisis in Bugna Woreda is not just a product of natural calamities. It is deeply intertwined with the ongoing conflict in the Amhara Region, which has surpassed the one-year mark. The area has been under the control of Fano forces for over a year, with the group accusing the government of obstructing essential supplies like medicine. Health professionals have reported alarming conditions, with pregnant mothers and children bearing the brunt of the shortages.
One health worker remarked, “Mothers who come to our health center are thinner than the children they breastfeed,” illustrating the extreme levels of malnutrition. Ayena Health Center’s head, Ato Mekonnen Ashagrie, lamented the halt in food and charity support since the new budgetary year.” https://eastafricanreview.com/2024/12/20/the-silent-crisis-famine-in-ethiopias-amhara-region/
Alarming Statistics
The scale of the crisis is staggering:
- “65% of children in the woreda are affected by food shortages.
- 84% of mothers face severe food insecurity.
- Over 7,000 children and 3,000 pregnant mothers are reportedly malnourished” https://eastafricanreview.com/2024/12/20/the-silent-crisis-famine-in-ethiopias-amhara-region/
A Hidden Crisis
“The silence surrounding this famine is deafening. Despite graphic images and firsthand accounts of malnourished children and desperate families, the issue has struggled to penetrate mainstream media. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has not issued a statement, and Ethiopia’s Disaster Risk Management Commission remains silent.” https://eastafricanreview.com/2024/12/20/the-silent-crisis-famine-in-ethiopias-amhara-region/