narrative report on lagalomi interventions july 2012

Society of the Helpers of Mary

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Narrative report on Lagalomi interventions 1 July 2012

by Sr. Emilia & Sr. Stella Location: Ethiopia, Sayo District, Kellem-‐Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State Project Site: Lagalomi Village (Karro area) Project Holder: Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte Implementers: Society of the Helpers of Mary (SHM) -‐ Ethiopia Contact Person: Sister Stella Devassy

Mobile: + 251 9 11 71 20 76 P.O. Box 54573 Addis Ababa – Ethiopia

Email address: [email protected] Project Duration: September 2011 – September 2012 Objective: To offer a chance for the settlers to rebuild their lives and to enable them to resettle themselves in the newly acquired land so as to build resilience and self sufficiency of the community whereby potential of the land is maximized, poverty is eradicated, democracy established and livelihood acquired. Beneficiaries: Approximatley 700 households – approx. 3.350 people

1 A separate financial report will be supplied where agreed / still applicable.


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Historical Note

The Country of Ethiopia is divided into 9 regions. Harar is one of the regions. The region is populated 4,800,000 approximately and the area is 260,000 Sq.km. People speak Oromiffa which half of the country speaks.

Harar is a place which is always affected by draught, flood, famine and scarcity of rain and natural calamities. The common religion practiced in the area is Islam. After prolonged drought and consequent famine in 2009, around 750 households (4,000 people) sold all their belongings and took public transport from their homes in Harar regional state in the Chiro and Meisso districts, Oromiya Regional State. In September 2009, they settled in Ketho, 50 km from Dembi Dollo. They had been informed that Kellem-‐Wollega is a zone with favorable living conditions by their clan members and relatives who had been relocated there by the government five years earlier due to the drought. In Ketho, people lived on their own budgets for five months. By 2010, about 1600 households had settled in Ketho, and it became apparent that there were not enough resources for everyone. The government handed out cards giving formal permission to the first, aforementioned group of 750 households to settle in Lagalomi, a secluded area 70 km from Ketho.

Sr. Stella in Ketho.

Of the people who came thereafter, 600 were relocated to Anfilo and Shebel, and 300 have not received a card to date; they are still waiting in Ketho. Lagalomi is a village of internally displaced people (IDPs) located in Sayyo District. It is located 25 km from Dembi Dollo, the capital of Kellem-‐Wollega Zone, 12 km from Sakko, the main base of SHM in this region, and 12 km from Karro, where SHM is also stationed

The 750 Harari households constituted 12 groups which were rearranged into 27 groups after they were relocated to Lagalomi on government trucks. There, the government assisted the people as follows – they:

• Constructed an access road and bridges between Dembi Dollo and Lagalomi • Constructed 6 hand pumps • Provided a tent from which limited medical supplies are distributed (one bed, a blood pressure machine,

some bandages and anti-‐pain medicine)


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• Constructed a flower mill • Mobilized the local community to assist in the construction of small tukuls (huts) • Provided 75 square meters of land to every household

According to a population survey done by SHM in March 2011, there are 699 households in Lagalomi, which amounts to approximately 3350 people. The community is equally divided between male and female. Government staff reports there are an estimated 550 children in primary school. Islam is the predominant religion of the Lagalomi villagers, while the local communities in the Dembi Dollo region are Christian. The large majority of adults are illiterate.

Around 50 households returned to Ketho or Harar, because they did not “have the patience to wait” for government assistance or because, once they got to Lagalomi, they deemed the climate too hot for their young children.

In the month of March 2011 the district administrator wrote a written letter to SHM Karro clinic to intervene, to start vaccination program in Lagalomi. And thus we entered the village to see the real condition of the people. Upon our visit we saw:

• Children were malnourished and few of them were dying.

• The pregnant women looked very enervated and strength less.

• People had not enough of cloths to wear, and no warm clothes to cover themselves in the night.

• There was no enough of food to eat.

• Early marriages caused still birth.

Mr. Hosana from ZOA doing needs assessment

Together with Zoa refugee care Nederlands (introduced to us by Liberty/VanStokkom), we undertook an extensive study of the situation at Lagalomi and made a detailed report of the interventions needed in order to help the people who are settled in Lagalomi. The intervention was divided in to 4 phases;

1. Emergency aid 2011/2012


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2. Sustainable development 2012/2013

3. Empowerment 2013/2014

4. Independence 2014/2015

As you flip through the pages below, we bring you a narrative report of the life rebuilding efforts undertaken in the first phase of the project-‐ emergency aid. The first phase of the Lagalomi interventions were a combined efforts of stichting Liberty Nederlands, Bartholomaeus association Germany, followed by Sierra Foundation. together with sisters of the Helpers of Mary (SHM). It was a beginning of a new life and rebuilding a community that have been uprooted from their home land, finding ways and means to resettle in another land.

Food grains/essential commodities distribution During the year 2011, food grains such as wheat, were distributed 3 times together with lentils and oil. In the beginning government was only providing them them15 kg maize and a small amount of cash ETB 20 for other needs. With that amount they could buy very little to feed a family of 6-‐7 persons. The distribution of essential items like sugar, oil, lentils and wheat has helped the people to substitute and to tide over the crisis. We could feel the happiness of the people and they have substantially improved their health.

Health care

Change of place brought many sicknesses to the people such as diarrhea, vomiting Typhoid, Malaria, Abdominal parasites etc… but they did not have money to go to the clinics or hospital. Emergency medical fund was allocated for the medicine. All the members were getting treatment with half price and all those who are not able, got free medicines. Thus they could go to the clinic freely and get treated for their illnesses. The school children were getting worm treatment once in 6 months.

Sr. Emilia active with Vaccination Program.

One of the remarkable progresses that took place during the year was the improvement in the health conditions of the people. Subsidized medicines along with food helped the people to regain their health. Once a month the children were vaccinated and along with them the pregnant women were checked and given vitamin tablets. During that time the staffs gave health education on various topics to the mothers e.g. Personal and


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environmental hygiene, how to take care of baby, importance of breast feedings, first aid for diarrhea, fever etc.

The government has set up a health post and the community health nurses takes care of the minor diseases and the others walk to Karro clinic which is 10 km from Lagalomi. Even though they walk for a long distance, they are happy because they get good medicines for subsidized price. There were no health facilities when the people came to Lagalomi. The existing medicines was meager and was not sufficient, in order to care for the health of the people life saving drugs was distributed, and all people in Lagalomi could come to Karro to get free drugs. This initiative not only prevented malaria and other communicable diseases, but saved the lives of many mothers and children.

Education

As a part of the community participation, new temporary iron sheet roof has been laid for 4 class rooms and 6 teachers are employed by the Government. 1st to 4th grade are operating until now and around 562 children are going to the school. In the 1st grade alone 347 children are enrolled. All the parents are interested in sending their children to the school and girls also are encouraged to go to the school. Exercise books and pens were distributed to all the children for a 2nd time. (First time by Mr. Henk Harkema & Mr. Bas van den Berg).

Children showing their new books.

Distribution of nutritious food for babies

During the year more than 200 babies received nutritious food mixed with milk powder so that the children regain their weight. Besides the only food available was maize which had only Carbohydrates. This intervention prevented possible deaths of infants in Lagalomi. Worm treatments were also administered to all children. The mothers who had more children and twin children were given extra nutritious food. The children below the normal weight were taken special care by giving them milk powder. 50 Such children


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were cared under the provision of milk powder.

Sr. Lourdes at distribution site.

Old People Assistance OPA) program – Sierra Foundation

100 old people are assisted every month by a small amount of money (approx 3 Euro per month) and a piece of soap and a packet of salt. Even though it is a small amount, it is a great help for them, and they wait eagerly for this every month. They use this money to buy oil, soap, Salt or coffee etc. The old people have no means to earn money, so with grateful heart they receive this money and spend for a good purpose. In return they do contribute their help by working an hour in the clinic garden (those who are able only). They do it willingly and happily. We also take this opportunity to give them health education on various topics. It is also an opportunity for them to come together and to share one another’s burdens.

OPA beneficiaries gather monthly.

Distribution of instruments/Agriculture -‐ Liberty

As the government had given them a piece of land to cultivate they did not have farming tools to dig their land. In order to speedup their productivity four type of instruments were given in the beginning of the year. Before the rainy season they were very happy to receive these instruments and they dug the land quite a lot. As far as seeds are concerned even though the government distributed different type of seeds, it was not enough. So we too added the seeds. Thus they got good crops for this year. So they have some thing for this year to eat. The crops may not last long as it is only subsistance farming, but with tools in their hand they can even continue to dig larger areas.


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People at work with the instruments.

As the people were brought in open trucks, they could hardly carry any pots and pans. The cooking materials have been distributed to all the families. The vessels were of great help to them as the big family could boil tea, coffee or cook food. With the shining vessels at home, the women were very happy and energized.

Distribution of seeds -‐ Liberty

In order to enable the people to have more food for themselves, massive seed distribution was undertaken so that people could try different seeds that suits the land. This was a wonderful move as it made people tow work hard and brought much land under cultivation. Many of them grew oil seeds as oil seed is suitable for new soil and each to fetch money.


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Sr. Emilia supervises seed distribution.

Petty shops and trading

Due to seed distribution and the hard work of the people, the land began producing. From their field the extra products they sell it for others. 10 familes have started small shops and started to improve in their economic situation. They sit on the road side in Lagalomi in the evenings and sell and almost everyday there is an evening market running there.

People sell their products in Lagalomi.

House building -‐ Bartholomaeus

The houses made by the local Government had no much durability; many of them could not stand against rain and sun. Seeing the condition a massive house construction program was undertaken. So during the 1st year we were able to complete around 105 houses and other house construction is on progress, as of now 300 houses are nearing completion. One of the remarkable things about house building is that, we need to contribute materials and the people themselves will build their own house with little technical assistance from a knowledgeable person. The housing program has furthered their hope of survival.


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View of the houses at Lagalomi.

While building the houses, the people themselves contributed their energy, talents and their sources such as collecting the needed wood for the house building and all those are able, go together and build each other’s house. There is lots of tree felling among themselves and they help each other. Once the wood is ready we provide corrugated sheets, nails doors and windows. Once houses are completed, they paste clay soil and paint it if possible. The first phase ended on a positive note, as people were more than willing to improve themselves, and their surroundings and they responded well to the aid that was being given. Politically they remained peaceful and began cooperating well with the government authorities. People began adjusting well to the new environment and they began relationship with the near by Oromo community. The people of Lagalomi became a shining example of hard work and togetherness. We felt that we could wind up even faster than we had planned.

View of the houses at Lagalomi. People build their own houses.


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2nd Phase of support for Lagalomi.

Lagalomi -‐ through the hands of Helpers of Mary and hearts of Wees een Kans.

Since the people of Harar stepped into Lagalomi in Jan 2010, life was never the same. God found them through the Helpers of Mary and lives have been sustained and life has been changed. Thanks to the immediate and secondary interventions of the past, Lagalomi is back again on the reckoning.

During the 2nd phase of Lagalomi interventions, the services of the Dutch interns of University College Utrecht were of tremendous help, as they made an intensive study of the impact of the 1st phase. The documents that they prepared were of great support for reference and for the future course of action. The students stayed 4 weeks in Lagalomi and studied various aspects of the people of Lagalomi and evaluated the interventions done so far. Based on the finding we could further plans for the 2nd 3rd and 4th phase of Lagalomi and prepare a systematic phasing out strategy. What is more encouraging was that people in Lagalomi were faster in responding than we ever imagined! Due to this we had to change some of the strategies that we had planned.

Vaccination program:

As per the request of the government we continued to administer vaccination to all mothers and babies. At present 150 babies below 5 year olds are vaccinated every month. The clinic staffs go to Lagalomi once a month to vaccinate.

Sr. Emilia assists staff for vaccination.


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Provision of nutritious food for babies

Reaching food aid to the children at Lagalomi continues even at the 2nd phase. Instead of giving food aid to all people, we decided to concentrate on babies who are malnourished. 200 babies were identified and on vaccination day’s food was distributed. The food was made of different kinds of grains ground, mixed with sugar and milk powder to give to the children once a month. It brought good result and the children started to gain their normal weight. It was a good change.

Oil seed distribution

Apart from the seeds that were given by the government, during the 2ndphase we distributed beans and oil seeds to the people so that they can grow and can have more income. Oil seeds are cash crops and they could use the income to substitute for other essential items needed to buy in market.

Distribution of school stationary

Lagalomi had 650 children who can go to school from 1-‐6 grades. The people also felt the need to educate their children. So the people themselves made a temporary tent and children started to learn in that tent and the Government provided 5 teachers. But the children had no exercise books and pens to learn. Seeing the conditions of the children, we distributed all the educational materials for the children. In the beginning of March, 2nd round of books was distributed to the children. This time, many children were dropped out of the school due to lack of motivation from the parents and teachers. Lagalomi being low land, it is very hot hence during hot season children found it very difficult to sit under short roofed class rooms.

Children are happy to get notebooks.


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Medical Aid

So far all those people who are coming to Karro clinic for treatment have been getting medicines at a subsidized rate, so that it motivate them to come to clinic and make use of the clinical services. There is hardly any facility exists in Lagalomi. And for all referral and major cases, they have to walk to Karro. So far 670 sick patients of Lagalomi have visited the Karro clinic for various ailments from January to June 2012.

Re organizing the class room

The children were sitting in the grass shed prepared by the people themselves. But in the 2nd phase, people on their own initiative and with the support of the government made a corrugated sheet roof for their children to sit, so that they can escape from rain, Although it is not a permanent solution, that shed can serve for the time being. We only provided nails and as a result of this initiative, many children could come to the school and make use of the educational facility. That was very encouraging when we take in to consideration of the fact that many of the people in Lagalomi are illiterate and the future lies in the hands of these children. We also provided temporary benches for children to sit.

Mosquito nets distribution

In order to prevent malaria and other illness, mosquito nets were distributed to the people in Lagalomi. Only those who completed the houses got mosquito nets and the other will continue to receive nets once they have got houses. So far we have distributed 300 nets and people are so happy that they can now not only sleep under strong roof but also get protection from mosquitoes.


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Massive tree plantation:

A massive tree plantation was undertaken together with the support of the government in order to prevent deforestation in the wake of hectic economic activity that was going on in Lagalomi. Each member of the family planted 10 plants each so that land is preserved together with massive cutting of trees for house building. More than 30,000 trees were planted in Lagalomi during the last year and there is a great hope that the people in Lagalomi will be able to preserve the natural setting of the area. There is as Small River named “Lomi” which is flowing near to Lagalomi from where the name “Lagalomi” itself derived. “Laga” means “River” “Lomi” means “lemon” the government set up a nursery to grow seedlings.

Man planting tree.

Sheep distribution program As planned in the 2nd phase of Lagalomi intervention 100 sheep were distributed to the poorest people. The people were so happy to have the sheep as income generation program and they have promised to give back one sheep when it multiplies. The community leaders have taken responsibility to see to it. It is a welcome sign that the community takes care of the animals and grace them well. Lagalomi is conducive for goats/ sheep rearing.


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Cultivation

Seeds of vegetables fruits and other locally grown plants were distributed to people and they already began substituting food with papaya, Sweet potato, Pepper , Banana, Chatt, Ground nuts and other things which they use for daily consumption. Due to the rain and the presence of the Lomi river nearby, people could cultivate these things and they even sell it in the local market in Karro and lagalomi itself.

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Conclusion

With grateful hearts, we acknowledge the great contribution to Bartholomaeus, Liberty, Sierra and Wees een Kans for the contributions they made to enrich, enhance and to sustain a community of more the 3.000 people whose existence would have been doubtful without your timely assistance. There is an all round improvement in the life of the villagers at Lagalomi village. They have now settled down, began cultivating their land, started small shops for trading, have small trading activities with nearby community at Karro, the social and cultural setup has been improved. The government too has been stepped in building a vetinary clinic , although not functional yet, and a health post for the emergency care of the people. The food distribution organized by the government is being continued and people are beginning to reorganize their lives and started to live fully in Lagalomi and they feel a sense of integration.


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The face of Lagalomi is changing day by day. We are waiting for that day, when people are able to support themselves. Meanwhile we can rest assured that the support of friends like you has saved not only many lives, but a whole generation from the brink of disaster.

Jesus would tell each one of us; “When you did it to the least of my brothers and sisters you did it to me” you have truly offered people in lagalomi “a chance” to live again

Thank you and God bless you., also on behalf of Sr. Emilia and our congregation,

Sr. Stella Devassy

Tailoring shop Lagalomi Petty shop Lagalomi

narrative report on lagalomi interventions july 2012

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