Page 76 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Emergency When crisis calls: on the frontlines of food and aid

Tiruneh Debena

HELPING FAMILIES GROW FOOD IN A REGION SCARRED BY CONFLICT

“I witnessed how our beneficiaries were able to produce and cover “What I am most proud about my work with FAO was
their basic food needs,” said Tiruneh Debena, UN Volunteer Emergency
Livelihood Specialist from Ethiopia. to ensure that resources had been applied on those who
needed it the most, especially women, children and elderly
North-east Nigeria is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises
in the world today. In a region where over seven million people need households. This gave me a lot of moral satisfaction.”
urgent food assistance due to insurgency and climate crises, Tiruneh
quickly got to work. He travelled to the hardest-hit areas to assess needs
72 and helped plan FAO’s emergency response. “Speed of reaction was
crucial,” he reflected.

Based in Adamawa State, in Nigeria, Tiruneh supported communities
who had lost their homes, land and livelihoods. His work focused on
helping families grow their own food again and regain some financial
independence.

Through projects like seed fairs, micro-gardening, livestock distribution
and seasonal farming support, Tiruneh’s efforts helped reached almost
40,000 households rebuild their ability to feed themselves and earn a
living. In a place where daily life has been shaped by crisis, Tiruneh’s work
helped families take concrete steps toward stability and a more hopeful
future.

Tiruneh Debena (centre) was a UN Volunteer and Emergency Livelihood Specialist with
FAO in Nigeria. [UNV, 2019]