As a supporter of Roots Ethiopia, you know that education and job creation is at the heart of our mission. While we are laser focused on children, education, and moms, we cannot ignore the urgent needs of families facing unexpected crises.

Right now, crises are threatening the communities where your generosity has helped improve the lives of so many families. In times of urgent need, such as the current deadly malaria outbreak and widespread hunger, we cannot stand idly by. That’s why providing humanitarian aid, particularly in the form of emergency food support, is part of our mission.

Your Help Is Critically Important In Times of Crisis

It’s no wonder we are all deeply worried by the current hardship. Crops are facing ruin from too much rain and a frightening malaria outbreak is a deadly threat to families. When tragedy threatens, we at Roots Ethiopia believe we share a moral obligation to get to work where we can, with the skills that we have, and deliver comfort and support to families in crisis. As someone who cares deeply about the well-being of Ethiopian families, it’s critically important we take take action when it matters most.

The Devastating Impact of Malaria and Hunger

Studies have shown that children who are malnourished are far more vulnerable to malaria. In some areas, up to 75% of children being treated for severe acute malnutrition also have malaria. When extreme weather events destroy crops and livelihoods, the situation becomes even more dire. The number of children needing treatment for both malnutrition and malaria can double in the aftermath of disasters like the one going on right now in Ethiopia.

Humanitarian Aid: A Lifeline for Families

In times of crisis, your support for emergency food support provides a lifeline to families who are struggling to survive. By delivering essential food supplies and providing cash assistance for other necessities like medicine, you help families weather the storm and maintain their strength and their ability to tackle hardships.

But humanitarian aid efforts go beyond just helping families get through the immediate crisis. By ensuring that children have enough to eat, they have the chance to focus on their education. And by providing mothers with the resources they need to care for their families, they can help their family members recover. For beneficiaries who are directly part of the programs you support, children stay in school and moms continue to participate in their SHE groups, creating a path out of poverty.

A Commitment to Compassion and Lasting Change

As a supporter of Roots Ethiopia, you are part of a community committed to standing with families in their time of need and working tirelessly to create lasting change. By incorporating humanitarian aid into our mission, you build resilience that is not just about long-term development, but also about being there for families when they need your help the most.

Together, we believe that every family deserves the chance to thrive, no matter what challenges they face.

As we continue to monitor the situation in Ethiopia and respond to the urgent needs of families affected by hunger and malaria, we are grateful you remain committed to our mission and the compassionate spirit that drives the work you care about. You make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Providing food to a family is love in action. Food support saves lives.

Sources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080566/
2. https://endmalaria.org/sites/default/files/RBM_Food_Security_Fact_Sheet_170915.pdf
3. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/climate-shocks-food-insecurity-and-malaria-madagascar
4. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15244-3
5. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/situation-report–greater-horn-of-africa-food-insecurity-and-health—grade-3-emergency—01-november—31-december-2023