Steps Donates $25,000 to Fight Ethiopian Drought
Steps has donated $25,000, which was matched to double its impact, to the World Vision WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) program to help fight the drought in Ethiopia.
Water shortages, food insecurity, and malnutrition in many parts of Ethiopia are putting millions of lives at risk. Failed rains and the arrival of one of the worst El Niños on record are causing life-threatening drought conditions. The Ethiopian government has declared 10.2 million people in need of emergency assistance and 5.8 million people in need of clean drinking water and basic sanitation. Even before the drought, many children were forced to walk hours to get water for their families. These children are forced to miss school to take these trips, and the water is often from unsafe sources, which can have consequences as dire as the lack of water itself.
Steps’ partnership with World Vision will help them establish and maintain WASH facilities. These facilities promote healthy hygiene and sanitation practices as well as improve water access to clean water through new wells and spring catchment systems. These facilities are being targeted in the highest priority areas with a long term goal of building drought resilience in the communities. Between 2010 and 2015, the WASH program improved clean water access to over 900,000 Ethiopians.
Please pray for those affected by this ongoing drought and consider helping support the World Vision WASH program in their work.