Deaths reported due to severe drought in Amhara's Wag Hemra Zone

A severe drought in the Wag Hemra Zone of Ethiopia's Amhara region has led to reported deaths and critical humanitarian distress. Residents in Sahala Seyem and Tsagimji woredas report a dire lack of food and animal fodder, causing suffering among the elderly and children. Local agricultural officials state that over 66,000 people are directly affected by the drought, and despite government efforts to distribute food aid to 30,000 people, the assistance remains insufficient to meet the overwhelming need.

The Amhara Region Disaster Risk and Food Security Commission confirmed that over 11,000 quintals of grain have been dispatched to five woredas in the zone, including Ziquala, Dahna, Sahala, Sekota, and Gazgibla. Officials acknowledge that while transportation delays have hampered aid delivery, they are mobilizing more vehicles to reach the vulnerable populations. Residents emphasize that the compounding effects of previous conflicts and the current drought have left communities in a life-threatening situation.