In the Tigray region, land degradation, deforestation and recurrent drought left watershed areas bare and unproductive, leading to food insecurity and the need for humanitarian assistance. Here, USAID has been partnering with the Government of Ethiopia and the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) to rehabilitate watershed areas, building resilient communities that can provide for their own people. Using satellite imagery from NASA and SERVIR, it’s possible to see the impact of these investments, which have helped communities transform their land to better manage water resources and cultivate crops more efficiently, and withstand drought conditions more effectively. As a result, families are able to graduate from food assistance and safety net programs, and stand on their own to lead more prosperous lives.
Video Transcript:
Satellite imagery can show us the value of investing in community resilience programs in Ethiopia. In Tigray, the USAID Food for Peace program helped communities build small dams and infrastructure projects to manage water and other natural resources, and transform their land. Here is what this transformation looks like...from space. [images from 2005, 2006, 2016, 2018 and 2019 scroll]. This transformation has enabled communities to cultivate their land, reduce crop losses, and withstand recurring droughts. As a result, families can graduate from food assistance and safety net programs, and support themselves, support their families, and lead more prosperous lives. U.S. invests in Ethiopians.