Borena receives an oasis of hope amidst drought concern

Climate change takes a toll on the greater part of southern Ethiopia rendering parts of the Somali and Oromia region to be affected by severe drought.
The government, some NGOs, and the private sector actors in this regard have come together in different settings with emergency support to try to mitigate the problem that mainly affects the pastoralist communities.
On Saturday, February 27 ‘Top Beverage and Trading Industries’ have inaugurated a water well at the drought-affected zone of Borena, Oromia region.
The well that cost five million birr was commissioned to support the pastoralist community in Borbor kebele of Das wereda, which is 900 km south of Addis Ababa, providing drink to both the community and livestock.
As Jarso Boru, Head of Borena zone explains, for the past two years the area did not receive regular rain which has significantly affected the community. He appreciated the concerted support from the government, NGOs, and private sector for mitigating the problem through various initiatives and projects in the zone that has about 6.5 million cattle resources.
Shimeles Ajema, Deputy Managing Director of Top, said that the constructed well has a capacity to produce 10 liters of water per second which makes it better when compared with other similar wells in the area.
“If other companies chip in and join hands in such initiatives, the problems that plague this region shall be sustainably averted,” suggested Shimeles encouraging other companies in the private sector to follow suit.
Nevertheless, the drought is expected to continue since the upcoming seasonal rain seems highly unlikely to fall as per previous forecasts. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on his late last week call indicated that further collaboration and support is crucial to change the drought and hunger rhetoric that affects Ethiopia for decades. “Drought has far long being the biggest threat to Ethiopia as opposed to the enemies that have tried to threaten Ethiopia,” remarked the Prime Minister.
He directly called on the financial firms to consider giving the much-needed financial support to boost the agriculture industry so as to change the problem from the ground up.