The first food distribution for the Ethiopia Emergency Famine Relief Fund project took place in December 2009. Food was purchased to provide for the needs for 3,048 adults and 1,400 children for one month. Four Isuzu trucks were loaded in Addis Ababa with the following:

• 13,100 kg of wheat flour
• 7,000 kg of Famix (seed)
• 2,225 liters of vegetable oil

Project managers purchased locally grown wheat at slightly higher prices, so that they would be contributing to the local economy in a healthy fashion. The wheat was also ground locally into flour, which was delivered to the people in villages and schools in the target distribution areas.

The distribution team met with the kebele chairman (local leader) in the target area and the 5 sub-kebele chairmen to confirm the distribution list, according to the government surveys with recipients listed and asked these leaders to help the people by stressing the need for children and lactating/pregnant women to receive the lion’s share of the goods. The team equated this to the way they ration meager milk supplies to children before giving to adults. The chairmen seemed to agree that this was the right thing to do.

During that meeting, an estimated 300 men and women arrived from the kebele to see what was going on. One team leader was introduced by his "local" name, which caused a stir and warmed the people to receive instructions from the distribution team. They highlighted the special needs of women and children to the larger crowd and spoke of the continued need to pray for our many friends and families, who are supplying this food not from their wealth, but because of their love for them.

After a time of prayer the men went straight to work, dividing the food into five piles for each of the five sub-kebeles. Then each sub-kebele divided their piles into extended family groupings, and then the women entered and further divided the food supplies into amounts that would meet their own families’ needs. The whole thing took only five hours. One team SIM team member commented, "It was truly a joy to witness the well known sharing mechanisms of these people in action. Smiles and pleasantries ruled the day. I [didn't see] one argument. We drove away as sacks were being carried off by donkeys and people."

The team member also described some of the initial results of the first distribution. "Over the next two days we had need to drive through [one kebele] several times. We saw evidence of the food throughout the kebele. More than that, we were warmly welcomed wherever we traveled. This kebele lies just south of our primary target area. Previously these people did not know us. Now we are known and accepted as part of them. Thank you for helping to make this happen."

Many thanks to those of you who have responded to the Ethiopia Famine Relief Project. The second distribution is now complete as well, and the third will commence soon.

Pray

Please continue to pray that:

• the food from this next distribution will be used effectively.
• the right amounts of rain needed to make the seed grow.
• people's physical and spiritual needs will be met.

Give

You can be a part of providing for both the physical and spiritual needs of these people by giving a gift to the Ethiopia Emergency Famine Relief Fund today.

Thank you for your partnership with us!