Project area Jeldu
General information
The Jeldu region has been one of the Menschen für Menschen project areas since the beginning of 2017. The area lies between 1,900 and 3,200 metres above sea level. Around 44 per cent of the region is classified as lowland and 32 per cent as highland.
Project start: 2017
Area: 725 km²
Population: approx. 256,000
Main town in the region: Gojo
Location: approx. 115 kilometres northwest of Addis Ababa in the West Shewa Zone.
Initial situation before the start of the project
In Jeldu, around 90 per cent of the population is dependent on the yields from their fields, most of which are too small. The severe deforestation in the region poses a particular challenge. As in many regions, the soil is barely fertile. Severe erosion washes away arable land, which also has a negative impact on crop yields. The children, women and men therefore suffer from severe deficiencies.
The biggest challenges in Jeldu:
- Only one in ten people have access to clean drinking water in Seriti Catchment.
- Around 17 per cent of the population suffer from the eye infection trachoma. If left untreated, the disease can lead to blindness.
- Half of all mothers give birth to their children in inadequate conditions. Every second delivery lacks adequate medical support.
- Only every second baby receives medical care after birth.
