Ethiopia: ICRC provides seeds and fertilizers to 132,000 people

The support focused on families headed by women or with a single parent in areas where the need is greatest and access is most challenging within the three regions.

The humanitarian operation was rolled out between early May and 22 June 2026, in cooperation with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS). “Making sure that vital support reached the rural communities was challenging this year,” said Mulan Giovannini, head of the ICRC’s operations in Ethiopia. “The fuel crisis disrupted transportation and access to certain places was difficult.” 

Seeds were procured from local cooperatives the ICRC supported through a seed multiplication programme. The fertilizers were purchased in early 2026, which ensured their timely availability for the distributions.

You reached us during a very difficult time,” said a farmer from a hard-hit area in West Wellega, in the Oromia region. About 30,000 people benefitted from the assistance in this zone, while 18,000 residents of the Sasiga district in East Wellega received wheat and teff seeds along with fertilizers. 

In Amhara, the ICRC and ERCS distributed seeds (mostly a mix of maize, wheat or teff) and fertilizers to 12,000 people in seven affected areas of Gojjam and to 36,000 in nine isolated communities of North Wollo. One of the residents said:

Getting fertilizer is a luxury here – access and supply has been a big constraint for over a year."

In Tigray, fertilizers, wheat, teff and sorghum seeds were distributed in 13 rural areas from the southern, eastern, central and northwestern zones, helping 36,000 farmers and their families.

The ERCS volunteers played a pivotal role in the registration of beneficiaries and in the distribution process. The operations were carried out in agreement with the local representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, at district and regional levels, and in full transparency with the relevant stakeholders at federal level and on the ground.

While the completion of the large-scale distributions will strengthen the resilience of 22,000 rural families, Mulan Giovannini expressed concern about the current climate forecasts: “El Niño conditions have started and are expected to persist, which historically has meant less rainfall during the June to September period over many areas of Ethiopia. During past years with similar conditions, yields were below normal in places such as eastern Tigray or northeastern Amhara, where we provided support this year.”

The ICRC in Ethiopia, working closely with the ERCS, remains committed to supporting conflict-affected communities to help preserve people’s lives, dignity and livelihoods.