You can help families survive the
hunger crisis in Ethiopia 

Have a double impact today

 

Join our life-saving response

The combined impact of a three-year drought, massive livestock loss, conflict, and inflation continues to cause devastation. Millions of people don't have enough food and USAID funding cuts mean that less international assistance is available.


Tearfund’s partner Terepeza Development Association (TDA) is responding to this forgotten crisis in the Moyale District of southern Ethiopia. Together with generous Kiwis, they’re distributing life-saving food and helping families rebuild their livelihoods. TDA is currently the only humanitarian agency responding in this area. If they don’t provide this food and support, no-one else will.  

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So far, New Zealanders have helped:

Deliver emergency food to 9,000 people

70% of those people now no longer need food aid

Supplied nearly 1,000 goats to help families rebuild their livelihoods

Avert starvation, according to independent evaluation

Now, it's time to expand

Be part of future food distributions

In this remarkable drone footage, you can see how dry, barren and remote the region is after six failed rainy seasons in a row.   

This footage was captured in December as our partner, TDA, distributed food to some of the most vulnerable people. With your help, we can expand this life-saving work into new villages and see thousands of new families receive emergency food and support to rebuild their livelihoods. 

Double your dollar through partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Impressed by what has been achieved by our partner so far, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has agreed to match every dollar you donate, to feed families in Ethiopia and help them recover (up to a cap of $782,000).

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Kiya’s story

Kiya was one of those who has been receiving emergency food at TDA’s distributions. 

“I’ve been struggling to feed my children. After losing my livestock I became hopeless. God bought this food support to our community during this time of crisis. I have received maize and oil which will feed my children and help sustain us. I thank TDA and Tearfund New Zealand who are saving our lives during this hard time!” 

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Roma's story

Roma lives in the Moyale district where TDA is supporting drought-affected families. She shares: 

In our community, livestock means everything for us. However, I lost 15 cattle and 15 goats to the drought. I found it difficult to feed my family of nine, and I was totally powerless. 

It was at this time, TDA identified me for emergency food support. I received food in three consecutive years. It saved my children’s lives; they almost died of starvation. 

Later, this year, I also received maize and haricot bean seeds, and three goats. Although I could harvest nothing from both crops due to failure in rains, thank God all three goats have given birth; I now have six goats. The goats are giving milk which I feed to my children. 

My house is on the roadside. Because of the trainings I received from the project, I have engaged in goat milk trading, making income daily so that I can buy food for my children.  

Now I can provide food to my family without expecting any relief support. I thank all who supported me, saved my children, and established hope for future!  

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More information about our partner and response
 

Meet Bereket, TDA’s Executive Director

What makes Tearfund different is our partnership with local communities. We believe communities know the issues they face better than anyone. That’s why we've partnered with Terepeza Development Association (TDA), a remarkable local Ethiopian organisation that has been active in the country for 30 years. Meet Bereket, TDA”s Executive Director, in this video.

 As the community development arm of Wolaita Kale Heywet Church in Ethiopia, they’re doing all they can to be God’s hands and feet, helping the most vulnerable people survive the current hunger crisis. Their response has been extremely effective.   

In 2024 and 2025, TDA provided life-saving food assistance to 9,000 of the most vulnerable people in southern Ethiopia. Some of these families told Tearfund staff that this support literally saved their lives.    

TDA also have a successful history of working with communities across Ethiopia to develop sustainable farming and agricultural programmes. This work has included training in how to increase crop yields in low rainfall areas, the establishment of Self-Help Groups, and the provision of supplies to get started. Our Tearfund staff have heard testimonies about how these programmes have increased household income, empowered women and resulted in more children being able to go to school. Again, this highlights the expertise of TDA and the long-term impact we can have together.   

Read our latest blogs 

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Uncovering Ethiopia’s Silent Struggle

Ethiopia’s beauty collides with a horrific reality that millions face. Three years of failed rains have pushed the country to the edge of famine.

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A Forgotten Hunger

Despite severe famine threatening 20 million people in southern Ethiopia, the crisis has received minimal international attention and aid, highlighting a dire need for urgent global action and awareness.

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Avoiding Famine in East Africa

East Africa is on the brink of famine due to severe drought, but with immediate aid and sustainable farming support, the crisis can be averted.

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Frequently Asked Questions 

How many people is your partner helping? 

Approximately 12,675 people will benefit from our partner’s response to the hunger crisis. 7,875 drought-affected will receive emergency food aid and 4800 individuals will benefit from the resiliency building part of the work. Our partner will work with local community leaders and stakeholders to identify those most in need of this support. 

How long will food support be provided the most vulnerable? 

TDA completed five food distributions to 10,000 of the most vulnerable from September 2024 to February 2025. They will now be focusing on helping families rebuild their livelihoods after mass livestock losses. This work has included distributing drought-resistant seeds and goats. TDA have also provided training sessions for farmers on how to maximise the provision of food from these distributions.

What are the long-term benefits of my donation beyond short-term food aid? 

In addition to providing food aid, your donation will also equip our partner TDA to provide drought-resistant seeds (like pigeon pea) and goats to families so they can rebuild their livelihoods.Training will also be provided to assist people in maximising their crop yields in this changing climate. 4800 individuals will benefit from this long-term resiliency building part of the project. 

Is your partner a Christian organisation? 

Our partner, Terepeza Development Association (TDA) was established in 1987 and is the community development arm of Wolaita Kale Heywot Church in Ethiopia. TDA has over 30-years' experience designing and implementing food security and resiliency building projects across Ethiopia. As a Christian organisation they live out Matthew 25:35 where Jesus says: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”  

TDA is led by Bereket Tassew, who has a strong faith and significant experience in working in complex humanitarian contexts, including Borena.  

 

 

Pray with us

Heavenly Father, 

We lift up East Africa to you and ask for your provision for those who are impacted by the severe hunger crisis.

Grant rain for agriculture, sustaining livelihoods and food security, and strengthen those providing emergency food assistance. 

Protect our partner and others distributing aid across the country and empower communities into the future.

May your love inspire compassion as together as we seek to serve our brothers and sisters in their time of need.  

Amen. 

Prayer guide

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