little Friends of Hibret ber Edir

“Little Friends of Hibret Ber Edir”

Help for Bole Olympia vulnerable Households affected by COVID-19

 

Ethiopia is one of the very few countries facing a double threat from COVID-19 and Desert Locusts in the region. In the recent weeks, the country has seen a sharp spike in confirmed cases and death due to COVID -19. To make matters worse, a second generation of the desert locust outbreak has been forming swarms and threatening crops and livelihoods in the country.

 

Both federal and local governments are acting responsibly to assist citizens in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the damage caused by locust outbreak. Encouragingly, local authorities have begun making important tweaks to the urban safety net in response to the crisis. Intensive public health measure in the form of everyday preventative messages and actions are instituted. The city and local Government in collaboration with the respective neighborhood youth are collecting donations from the public and businesses.

 

Meanwhile, food needs have increased in cities and towns as the virus spread throughout the country. Movement restrictions especially in the urban areas continue to affect vulnerable people livelihood. It is expected that the urban poor and those in informal sectors will face major food consumption gaps. Much support is needed especially for those who cannot work such as the elderly, the disabled, and women headed households with young children. Every possible support to the vulnerable households with food rations, protecting face masks, handwashing soaps and sanitizers is critical to reduce infection and save lives.

 

On a positive note, the COVID-19 offers us a moment in time to reach out to these vulnerable families back home. The crisis certainly presents opportunities for collective response to strengthen and expand the existing social protection system in order to boost resilience against such crises.

 

“Little Friends of Hibret Ber Edir” is an initiative organized by half a dozen local young persons of Olympia area. Through the initiative, volunteers give their time and energy at the service of their local community. These volunteers understood the COVID-19 poses considerable risks to already vulnerable populations living in their community. They also understood the potential risk associated with the dynamics of the virus, they self-isolate as individuals, but get involved collectively as members of the community reaching out to help the most vulnerable.   The volunteers knock doors in their neighborhood to raise awareness and collect donations in order to support the most vulnerable 55 households in greater Bole Olympia neighborhood of formerly known as Keble 27, 18, & 26. 

 

During the first phase of fund raising, the volunteers managed to raise One hundred thousand (100,000) birr locally and from few individuals in the diaspora. So far, assistance in the form of cash, food, and sanitary products has been distributed to the 55 individuals and households. The number of households who need assistance will likely increases in weeks and months to come as the infection rate increases.

 

As the saying goes, “50 lemons are a burden for one person but jewel for 50 people” Therefore, let’s all unite in the spirit of the Ethiopian proverb “Dir Biyabir Anbesa Yasir," and do what is possible to support the Hibret Ber initiative. We call upon all fellow Ethiopian diaspora in North America,and the rest of the world, especially those from the greater Bole Olympia “Hibret Ber Edir” catchment (Demerew Suk, Olympia, Greek club; Etege Mesk Bulbula; Hibret Amba, meseretekirstos, mulushewa,selasasebat and asrasebat.asrasement kebele , Wolo Sefer) area to open your heart and wallets to show your solidarity to the initiative.

 

Your generous donation through “GoFundMe Little Friends of Hibret Ber Ecir” is highly appreciated to complement the ongoing local initiative. Through our collective support, we ensure households and families in our local communities receive assistance in the form of cash, food and sanitary products to enable them meet their basic needs and overcome the crises. Every penny of your donation will go directly to support the vulnerable household in-need & will not be used for any thing else.

 

Please note these poor households were already struggling with acute food insecurity and poor health even before COVID-19. This means they are most at risk and less equipped to fend off the virus. Reaching out to those most affected will be a blessing in such a turbulent time. Let’s give them hope and strength to overcome these difficult times. We are in it together. Let’s also stay connected with each other to get through this outbreak as unscathed as possible.

 

Thank you in advance for taking part in “Little Friends of Hibret Ber Edir” initiative

 

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