Farmers who lost their harvest following massive floods and hailstorms in Ethiopia have been offered seeds by ActionAid as part of its continued relief efforts in the country, writes Bezawit Kefyalew.

Nearly 2000 farmers affected by the disaster in Eggu, Bilisuma, Kekeli, and Chefi-Anani kebeles (localities) of Kombolcha Woreda received a donation of chickpea seed, costing Birr 226,485 (about US$25,756.25). The money was obtained from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"I lost my harvest of potato, maize, sorghum and chat," said Nuria Seyide, one of the victims in Bilisuma.

"We survived by selling firewood with my children, who were eighth and ninth grade students. Now they stopped schooling in order to help me in household duties. We will continue to face this ordeal, until the chickpea is harvested after three months."

Forty-year-old Abrahim Dawed from Eggu said: "We survived this calamity by selling our cattle and buying our food. We have prepared the land to sow the chickpea, which we hope will relieve us from our problems."

ActionAid has already begun short-term intervention by giving food relief in Kombolcha since last August and would continue through October and November. Long-term rehabilitation and support is also planned.