Analysis of Rural Households Food Security in Western Ethiopia

This study analyzed rural households’ food security and its determinants in western Ethiopia. The study used a primary data collected from 276 randomly selected households using interview schedule. In addition, focus group discussion (FGD) and key informants interview were also used to obtain a qualitative primary data. As to the method of data analysis, the study employed descriptive statistics (such as mean, frequency, range and percentage) and binary logit model (BLM). The finding of the study revealed that, in the study area, 59.06% of the sampled households were food insecure and 40.94% of them were food secure. Besides, the study indicated that 86.87% of the households were vulnerable to different shocks, risks, and seasonality’s and 41.67% of the households faced shortage of food. Moreover, the finding indicated that only 31.88% of the households were food self-sufficient from own production. Low productivity, climate related problems and inadequacy of cultivable land were identified as the top three main causes of food shortage and/or food self-insufficiency from own production. The estimated BLM pointed out that sex, age, access to irrigation, off-farm and non-farm income, input cost, access to credit and distance to market were significant in determining household’s food security status. Therefore, policies and actions directed towards improving households’ food security and reducing their vulnerability should focus on the aforementioned factors.

Mustard Gas Massacres and Atrocities Committed by Italy in 1939 Against the Inhabitant of Menz, Merhabete, and Jamma in Amesegna Washa/Zeret Cave

Following the 1934 Wal Wal incident which was used as a pretext for the second Italo-Ethiopian war, Italy had used prohibited chemical weapons in different battles. Among the chemical warfare agents Italy had used mustard gas, the most deadly poison gas and chemical available, against Ethiopian fighters. Nevertheless, the five year Italian rule over Ethiopia was not a peaceful experience of colonial rule. They were continuously harassed by Ethiopian patriots and had to live entrenched in their isolated fortifications. Sadly, Italy had committed several crimes against humanity. In this case, Ametsegna Washa, some call it “the cave of Zeret” was one of the forgotten massacres which happened in 1939, where up to more than 5,500 Ethiopians were gassed and machine-gunned. This paper, therefore, attempted to describe and analyze the forgotten massacres of the inhabitant of Menz, Merhabete, and South Wollo provinces in Ametsegna Washa (The cave of Zeret) by Fascist Italy in 1939. In doing so, the study employed qualitative research in which empirical data were collected from primary and secondary data. Primary data were gathered through qualitative field research observation, key informant interview with direct victims and their descendants, elders and experts at Menz keya gebreal woreda tourism office. Secondary data were gathered from books, published and unpublished journals, and historical records of the patriot. In view of that, the study employed qualitative method of data analysis in particular descriptive narration. The findings of the study shows that through the approval of Badoglio to use chemical weapons, the fascist soldiers had thrown several barrel with a mustard gas through the mouth of the cave then they attacked the mouth of the cave with artillery and machine-gun fire, and as a result more than 5,500 peoples have lost their live while those escaped from the massacre had faced a number of problems. The survival of the catastrophic massacre had faced physical injury which includes blindness, skin related problem, respiratory problem and as a result they had lived their remaining age with misery. This study, therefore, calls for the need of further investigation in the area. Along this, the place is not well-protected and, therefore, the government as well as the other concerning bodies should give serious attention in preserving and memorizing the historical cave.