2024/08/08 | Tzu Chi Foundation

Ethiopian refugee camp children are overjoyed to receive a full plate of food, a rare treat for those who often endure hunger. | Photo courtesy of Tzu Chi Foundation | Ethiopia

A Rare Full Meal for Displaced Ethiopian Children

In a makeshift classroom under a tent, displaced Ethiopian children sit on the ground, holding bread and plates of curry soy meat. Eagerly, they grab the bread with their hands, savoring every drop of the sauce. For these children, this is a rare, full meal—something they seldom experience.

Ethiopia’s Struggles and Tzu Chi’s Compassion

The children in the photo are cherishing the nutritious meal in their hands, savoring every bite. | Photo courtesy of Tzu Chi Foundation | Ethiopia

Ethiopia, Africa's oldest sovereign nation, has long been plagued by internal conflicts and ethnic strife. The ongoing civil war has left the country in turmoil, with countless children living in a state of perpetual hunger. Recognizing the urgent need, the Tzu Chi Foundation, in partnership with Kidmia Mahiber, a Christian charitable organization, launched a six-month meal program on July 19. The initiative provides daily meals for children under eight years old in refugee camps for the displaced, along with food packages for 3,000 families.

Bringing Comfort to Vulnerable Children

In collaboration with Kidmia Mahiber, Tzu Chi supports daily meals for 1,350 vulnerable refugee children in three locations: Bakelo, Woineshet Paper Factory, and China Camp. These children, who can only attend school for half a day in basic tents, represent the broader plight of Ethiopian youth. Their parents, struggling with the instability of their homeland, cannot provide them with safe shelter or sufficient food. This meal program offers a glimmer of hope in their otherwise challenging lives.

Seeking Refuge in Desolate Places

Ethiopian refugees, displaced by civil war, are forced to seek shelter in factories. The photo shows the conditions in which they live. | Photo courtesy of Tzu Chi Foundation | Ethiopia

Despite remaining in their own country, these Ethiopian refugees are forced to live in non-operational factories. Here, they scatter their belongings on the ground and sleep wherever space allows. In these chaotic surroundings, they seek only the essentials for survival, unable to dream of any semblance of privacy or normalcy.

Tzu Chi’s Food Package Distribution

Tzu Chi, in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Kidmia Mahiber, distributes food packages to help ease the hardships faced by refugees. | Photo courtesy of Tzu Chi Foundation | Ethiopia

On July 24 and 25, Tzu Chi successfully distributed food packages to 3,000 families across these refugee camps. Working closely with the Kidmia Mahiber and the refugee camp's self-governing committee, Tzu Chi identified the households most in need. The committee, composed of five refugee representatives from each camp, played a crucial role in this process.

Source: Tzu Chi Foundation‌ ‌Tzu Chi's assistance to Ethiopian refugees, which began in 2022.

Through these small gestures of compassion, Tzu Chi hopes to offer brief respite to those enduring the harsh realities of refugee life. This effort, though modest, brings a sense of comfort and humanity to families facing immense hardship.