Flowers in bloom: support 40 abused kids, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economy in the region; it is nevertheless one of the poorest. The country has been experiencing the worst locust invasion in decades, which is threatening food security and livelihoods of millions of Ethiopians. Moreover, like the rest of the world, Ethiopia has been experiencing the unprecedented social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Until now confirmed cases are 217.000 with 3000 deaths (World Health Organization data). According to the World Bank the main consequences for the country will be an increase in food prices, in unemployment and in poverty, which will hit the most vulnerable part of the population.

However, this is not enough to describe the current instable conditions in which the Ethiopian population and many children live nowadays. The emerging conflict between Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), an armed paramilitary organization, which is rising up in the north of the country, is worsening the scenario. The news that are bringing us our local referents do nothing but feed our concerns. Last year the Ethiopian minister decided to postpone the elections because of the pandemic. The Liberation Front of Tigray strongly opposed the postponement of the elections, organized an election in its region, leading to a military offensive of the Ethiopian government and reopening the armed clashes not only in Ethiopia, but also in Eritrea. Thus now Ethiopian people find themselves among the inhumane acts that the Tigray movement is carrying out in the north of the country and the armed response of the Federal Government.

The Federal Government has declared the state of emergency and it is restricting telephone and internet communications, in particular in the north of the country; for this reason it is harder to get in touch with our local partners. The activities planned by the project “Flowers in bloom” are continuing, despite the strong limitations due to COVID-19 and the ongoing conflicts. The staff keeps working in compliance with anti-contagion regulations, social distancing and using medical devices. Our local partners are working to make the foster home a place in which children victim of violence can always find a safety, protection and immediate care.
Thanks to your support  we are helping these children to obtain the peaceful future they deserve.
We want to thank all the people that are lending a helping hand to our “Flowers in bloom”!