Dear John, Last week, you heard from my colleague Johannes about how climate change is helping to fuel food insecurity in parts of the Horn of Africa like Ethiopia. Today, I want to share yet another reason with you why food is so scarce in this part of the world, and why the situation is so desperate. The soaring costs of wheat caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent global inflation is making life almost impossible for refugees in Ethiopia. And people like shopkeeper Kadra Omar (pictured) are seeing the effects in real time. “Most of the customers have stopped coming to my shop. When I tell them the prices, they are shocked and turn away.”
Kadra said: “I used to sell a kilo of wheat flour for 60 Ethiopian Birr, but now it’s 100 Birr. A 25kg bag of rice used to cost 2,500 Birr, but currently it’s 3,500 Birr. Every day the price increases. “Most of the customers have stopped coming to my shop. When I tell them the prices, they are shocked and turn away. The salaries they get, in comparison with the current price rates, means that they can’t make or settle their monthly bills. Last month, I didn’t receive the debt my customers owe me – they say it’s impossible. “The cost of items keeps increasing and our customers cannot afford to buy anything. Families skip meals, and the community has nothing. “I became so demoralised that I’m thinking of changing my business plan to livestock trading. We had the hope of developing and progressing, but our hopes seem zero.” With the support of donors like you UNHCR is helping refugees in Ethiopia to increase resilience by providing vital cash assistance. Cash assistance is one of the fastest, most effective ways to support refugees. It gives people the dignity of choosing how to spend their money, and also helps the local economy too. Will you help provide cash assistance to help displaced families feed their families today? We need donors like you to give regular support to enable refugee families to buy monthly food baskets. This support will help save lives and prevent severe malnutrition. With a regular $30 a month you can help refugees and displaced people across the Horn of Africa access lifesaving food year-round. By giving $100 you can support a whole family with cash to cover their essential needs for 1 month.
| 
