Tesema Negash Immediate Quotations

Ironically, these rains bring little respite. While they have alleviated the immediate need for water, there is increased risk of people falling sick from drinking contaminated water, while livestock deaths have continued because the animals are too weak and vulnerable to diseases such as pneumonia when temperatures drop at night.

We are sounding the alarm now because of what the early-warning indicators are all showing: a rapidly deteriorating situation. We need immediate action to avoid the loss of people's assets and their lives.

Even normal rains won't bring dead livestock back to life in the north or provide an immediate harvest in the east. There is no quick fix to this emergency after five consecutive poor seasons.