13 September 2011
Talking to Aster and Esmaul about the help they've received. Picture: Matthew Benson/DFID
Matthew Benson is deputy policy and programme manager for DFID's
humanitarian response and preparedness group. The team is responsible for monitoring global humanitarian crises and managing DFID's humanitarian response operations. Matthew has recently returned from Ethiopia, where he met some of the families being helped by UK aid.
"I spent three days in Ethiopia in August 2011, monitoring and observing the distribution of DFID-funded supplementary feeding for those affected by the drought.
I visited two hot-spot 'woredas' or districts - East Badawacho and Dugunga Fango. A range of activity takes place across the areas, from support for the worst-affected cases, through to continuing care for children who are out of immediate danger and have recovered from their malnutrition.
During my trip, I had the opportunity to see the variety of support that UK aid is funding. The different programmes and centres provide different types of help, specially tailored to meet particular needs.
Care for severely malnourished children in Edo
"World Vision took me to a Stabilisation Centre for severely malnourished children in a town called Edo, which they supply with food and medicine. The centre is staffed by government health care workers, using resources from DFID through the UN Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF). Here I met 30-year-old Martha Hirbo and her little boy, two-year-old Rahmato.
Rahmato was initially treated for oedema at the centre. This is a swelling of the body and stomach, caused by malnutrition. It must be treated with antibiotics before any other treatment can be provided.
Now he's recovered from his oedema, Rahmato is getting milk formula. When he has put on more weight and his appetite returns, he'll be given 'Plumpy Nut' instead of milk. This is a high-nutrition, ready-to-eat supplementary food and should help him to recover fully.
All of this food and much needed medicine is being provided by World Vision, with DFID funding. This centre alone has already helped 170 children recover. The funding has made a huge difference, and will continue to do so, for severely malnourished children like Rahmato across Ethiopia.
Rahmato's mother Martha told me that because her husband is seriously ill and unable to work, she 'must now be the bread winner for the family,' which includes Rahmato's two older sisters. The burden on her is enormous and it shows. The support she receives from World Vision helps Martha support her family and alleviates a little of this burden.
Extra help for recovering children
"Continuing my trip in East Badawacho, I met 30-year-old Aster Waritu and her five-year-old son, Esmaul, at a Supplementary Feeding Programme centre.
Esmaul has previously been treated in an Outpatients' Therapeutic Feeding Programme Centre run by World Vision. Following his recovery from acute malnutrition, the supplementary feeding programme has provided him with extra food for three months, with a further month to come, to ensure he doesn't relapse and become malnourished again.
Aster told me that her husband is a farmer, but that following the disastrous impact of the drought on their crops this year, they had to sell their oxen, donkey, sheep and goats in order to buy food for the family. They are now only left with their small plot to try to cultivate food. They have managed to fully plant the plot though and, with the recent arrival of the rainy season, it is performing well.
Aster remains positive for the future. With the help of World Vision and UK aid, she is able to ensure her children don't suffer from malnourishment and remain healthy. Funds provided to organisations like World Vision support programmes that help children who are malnourished to recover. At the same time, other programmes help to ensure those at high risk of becoming malnourished are provided for and that they don't suffer.
There's still much to be done in Ethiopia - and more support is needed - but during my trip I saw how UK aid is making a real difference and reaching the people who are most in need during the droughts."