This just came to us from Kenny Rae, a public health engineer currently working in southern Ethiopia helping to rehabilitate water systems.

“As with other pastoralist families in Dire district in Southern Ethiopia, 10-year-old Guyo Hamadi and his family are traveling with their herd of cattle in an increasingly more difficult search for water and fodder. Guyo and his father and brother will travel more than 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) to provide water for their herd, of which they have already lost one third due to the drought. Oxfam’s drought response program in Dire includes rehabilitating wells that will provide water for people and their livestock, and the delivery of water by tanker truck to meet immediate needs in outlying areas.”

Oxfam aims to reach 3 million people in the East Africa region with a variety of support including food aid, clean water, and veterinary care for animals.  We are also campaigning to change the root causes of this crisis. Find out how you can support our efforts.