Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic - Study reveals people including children have died from severe food shortage in North Wollo
January 10, 2025
A new study indicates that severe food shortages have led to deaths of mothers and children in Bugna Woreda of North Wollo Zone in Amhara Region.
Starting from last month a severe food shortage in the woreda was reported by BBC and other media platforms, disturbing photos also emerged.
A short study from Woldia University on food shortages in the area found that the impact was “found to be severe.”
A taskforce of six professionals visited four “key” kebeles in Bugna Woreda and observed severe food shortages, lack of medical services and water which has hurt the community.
In addition to Bugna Woreda being known for drought, it was impacted by conflict during the northern war and faced floods and snow conditions over the last year, which farmers told BBC left the community without even a seed.
Since the woreda fell under control of Fano forces for more than a year, fertilizer, medicine and healthcare services, ambulance services, bank services and safety net assistance were cut off.
One researcher said “both natural and man-made causes together exposed the community to this kind of problem” describing the situation in the woreda and adding that people had even lost their lives.
The researcher who opted for their name not to be mentioned confirmed that in the health stations they visited across the four kebeles mothers and children under the age of five had died from food shortages.
The BBC reviewed the research study on food shortages and the health situation in the woreda which indicated that five children and two mothers had lost their lives to food shortages in addition to hundreds associated with childbirth.
While three children lost their lives in Kob Kebele (cluster), another two children lost their lives in Birko and Kidus Harbe Kebeles.
The researcher also told the BBC that two mothers lost their lives due to food shortage in the woreda’s main town of Ayena.
The researcher explained that in Ayena town, a mother would feed her children based on “buna kurs” (appetizers served with coffee) from her neighbor’s residence and she lost her life as “her struggle was unknown” and she was later discovered.
The researcher said “people are dying from hunger” adding, “we believe people should not die from hunger in this age. But this is what is happening in Bugna.”
“These people are those who come because the problem is beyond their means. There are also many who die before reaching health centers” they said describing how the number of people affected could be greater.
Another researcher who was involved in the study said he was certain if the group had more time and reached other areas “there is no doubt the problem is much worse than this.”
The Bugna Woreda administrator Ato Getaye Kassaw said he had heard people had died but said “nothing has been confirmed” stating to BBC that he did not confirm that people had lost their lives.
The administrator told BBC a study was being conducted to verify whether people had lost their lives since the outbreak of severe hunger in the woreda in Hamle of last year (corresponds to the period between July 8, 2024 and August 6, 2024).
He said “health professionals are conducting an organized study in kebeles where residents have been severely impacted by hunger, including impacts on children and mothers.”
The woreda administrator Ato Getaye Kassaw says “there was a hunger outbreak” in the woreda and that infectious diseases like Malaria and scabies also broke out.
The Woldia University researcher said multiple problems were present in the woreda and diseases such as Malaria have spread and said various other diseases “related to hunger” have also spread.
The administrator told BBC there has been a “significant impact” particularly on women, children and seniors in the woreda.
The woreda administrator Ato Getaye Kassaw said of the 110,000 residents of the woreda over 79,000 are in need of assistance, and said “promising activities” are underway.
Ato Getaye said the government and organizations like UNICEF and the World Food Programme have been providing food and medicine to those in need, and that over eight health workers from Lalibela Hospital have traveled to the woreda to provide care.
The administrator said across all four health centers in the woreda there are mothers and children who have been “severely affected” and are in bed, and that they are being provided with medical treatment and food.
BBC spoke to two health center workers in the area who said recent efforts are an improvement but not enough support is reaching those in need.
The researchers said half of victims who come to health centers have had to return to their homes without food or medicine.
The woreda administrator said current levels of support, “could not be said to be enough” and told BBC there are still communities in need who have not been reached.
The Woldia University researcher said they were concerned of food shortages taking place during a period of grain harvests and that if this continues, he feared “it will be complete hunger”.
The researcher said the woreda has not been provided a lasting solution beyond emergency daily food assistance.
The woreda administrator Ato Getaye who agreed with this, said they are in talks to find a lasting solution to help the community.
At various times Bugna Woreda has been struck by drought, say residents, and that in previous years as war spread from Tigray to Amhara Region agricultural work was disrupted and infrastructure in the woreda faced severe damages.
Residents have told BBC disruptions to foundational health, agricultural and assistance provisions have worsened due to the armed conflict between government forces and Fano militants which has continued for more than a year.
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