Fuel Crisis Becomes an Existential Threat

In the Raphe district in southern Ethiopia, children sit by the roadside. On small tables before them are water bottles filled with a yellowish liquid: the children sell petrol to motorcyclists. Although their motorcycles only have small engines, they secure local transport and the conveyance of agricultural products. The vehicles are often the only connection between remote hamlets and markets.

Previously, a litre of petrol at official petrol stations cost around 130 Birr (0.66 Swiss Francs). On the black market, the price was about 200 Birr. In recent days, it has reportedly risen to 350 Birr (1.77 Swiss Francs) - an increase of about 75 percent. For comparison: the daily wage of a labourer in Raphe is currently around 300 Birr (1.52 Swiss Francs).

"The motorcyclists have to pass on the fuel costs to the customers," says Getachew Zewdu, country representative of Menschen für Menschen. The Swiss foundation has been carrying out a major development project in the Raphe district since 2025. Nine out of ten families do not have enough to eat all year round. They are cutting their portions and skipping meals. A baseline study commissioned by Menschen für Menschen revealed that the months of May to September are particularly critical. During this time, most families struggle with food shortages. Rising transport costs are now further increasing the prices of staple foods and everyday goods, making people's food rations even smaller.

Fuel is the largest import item

Ethiopia is a landlocked country. Diesel and petrol are brought into the country almost entirely via the port of Djibouti. Fuel is the largest import item of the country, accounting for about a quarter of the total import expenditure - estimated at 4.2 billion US dollars per year. In light of the situation, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on the population to use fuel sparingly. At the same time, the authorities announced that they would prioritize the available supplies for systemically important sectors. For other users, there are significant restrictions.

The project work of Menschen für Menschen is also affected. In the city of Dilla as well as in the regional capital Hawassa, about three hours away, buses, shared taxis, and trucks are waiting in long queues for diesel. "At some petrol stations, the vehicles are queued for kilometres," says Getachew Zewdu. The organization currently receives fuel in the remote project areas only with special permission and often only after days of waiting. "The authorities are concentrating sales at a few petrol stations to stretch supplies and secure essential services like ambulances, police, and food transportation."

The consequences are immediately felt in the project area. In Raphe, a large proportion of the population has no access to safe drinking water. "We want to build six source reservoirs this year, each to supply at least 100 families," says Getachew Zewdu. "But the contracted construction companies are currently unable to deliver cement or sand." People continue to rely on unsafe water sources, with corresponding health risks - especially for children.

The hardest hit are the poorest

Agricultural measures are also stalling. "We wanted to distribute over 60,000 ensete seedlings to 200 families in these days," says Zewdu. "But without transport, the families have to carry the plants over several kilometres themselves." In the mountainous area, this means an enormous physical burden, especially for women. Other project components, such as the distribution of sheep based on fair microcredits, are currently not feasible without transport.

Furthermore, there is another serious problem: "Our agricultural advisors usually reach the far-flung farms with small motorcycles," says Zewdu. "If they have to walk, they can only support a fraction of the families." Cash for procurements for project work is also becoming a scarce resource: the nearest bank is in Dilla, about an hour and a half drive away.

"The hardest hit are the poorest families," says Getachew Zewdu. "Our support is delayed, and at the same time, their situation is worsening immediately. Without transport, they can no longer sell their products, while the prices for purchased goods are rising. This means even more deprivation and hunger."

Menschen für Menschen is committed to fighting poverty and hunger. The foundation was founded by actor Karlheinz Böhm (1928 - 2014). In the spirit of the founder, the Swiss aid organization creates life perspectives for the poorest families in Ethiopia. The aim of the work is for them to be able to live with dignity in their homeland. The focus of the individual projects is on women’s empowerment, vocational training, microcredits, child assistance, family planning, and agricultural development. The components are combined according to local needs and implemented with carefully selected local partners.

Donation account: Post account 90-700 000-4 IBAN: CH97 0900 0000 9070 0000 4 Online donations: www.mfm.ch

For additional information or interviews with experts, please contact: Michael Kesselring

m.kesselring@mfm.ch

Tel.: +41 (0)43 499 10 60

Mob.: +41 78 802 68 58

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Stiftung Menschen für Menschen Schweiz / Photographer: Rainer Kwiotek