ETHIOPIA: ETHIOPIA: Zahara Abdu, "Five years ago we had 50 cows, now we have nothing"

EREBTI Friday, December 05, 2008 (IRIN) - Afar region in north-eastern Ethiopia has had little rainfall for the past six to 10 years, resulting in a prolonged drought that has seen a drastic reduction in livestock, which are treasured by the mainly pastoralist communities. Zahara Abdu, 29, mother of six, a resident of Haitan village in Erebti zone, has left her home to seek refuge in the nearby urban area of Erebti: "In June, after the drought became severe, I took the children and came to town...