Livelihood development for returning IDP's

ZOA Ethiopia assists families to return to their villages of origin and to realize their full integration. The focus is on livelihood development for 57 households and their home area communities by distributing livestock, seeds and farm tools. As a direct result, we are happy to see how much the lives of these beneficiaries have improved.

Hartisheik IDP camp
In 1999, because of diminished rainfall, thousands of drought-displaced people moved from many places toward Hartisheik near Jijiga in Somali Region. In this camp there is no regular water supply, and at times there is no water for several days. When this occurs, people obtain water from remote sources. They have no supply of electricity or gas. Medical establishments lack medication and equipment, and there is confusion over what the IDPs are entitled to. The children do not attend school.

ZOA’s activities in Hartisheik
In 2004, ZOA began humanitarian interventions, including skills training, income generating activities and gardening. In the extreme drought situation in 2008, ZOA initiated emergency food aid and water trucking; and in 2009 assisted with the installation of water service units and the introduction of water filters. Though this was of great help to the daily life of the IDP's, it did not add to structural solutions for the situation of the IDPs. In 2010 the IDP community approached the government and ZOA, registering their intention to return home.

Return and reintegration
ZOA Ethiopia decided to start the assistance or return in helping 57 households (293 internally displaced individuals) to move from Hartisheik camp to their original homes in Babile. The return and reintegration was supported by a basic assistance package that included food, housing construction materials, domestic items, seeds, agricultural tools and livestock. They were warmly welcomed by the return communities and these households appear to be thriving. ZOA also supported over 40 vulnerable host community households in Babile with a similar package of materials. Currently ZOA is implementing a longer term project in these communities, focused on water work projects and additional livelihood support.

Till now, 57 donkeys, 171 goats and 57 oxen were distributed to 57 households. 12 of these households are female-headed. Sweet potato and ground nut seeds will be distributed in April 2012. The construction of the hand-dug well, and the rain water harvesting scheme for the Babile public school, will be accomplished in 2012. As a direct result of this distribution, the lives of these beneficiaries have improved. Many have begun to grow a variety of crops and vegetables, increasing their nutritional intake and their drought coping mechanisms.

The photo shows Yusuf, a returnee (in the middle) inviting the team to try his ground nuts.