“We were pastoralists; we were very affected by the drought. It finished all of our livestock,” says Hasna Ali from Aysha, Ethiopia. Hasna lost all her livestock in a drought, forcing her to settle in the town. “In times of drought, we used to migrate to the green area, so our livestock could eat,” continues Hasna.

The EU Resilience Building and Creation of Economic Opportunities in Ethiopia (RESET II) programme helped Hasna in changing her livelihood. “I have been trained for one and an half months in tailoring. Now I am reaping the benefits,” explains Hasna. She has access to resources and clients through the newly asphalted road. “It’s useful for us. Everything comes through the road. If there is no market, there is no work. I work doing tailoring and selling in the shop.”

The EU supports two million people to cope with drought. “My children are not hungry as before. In terms of water and sanitation, they got everything and now we are in a good financial situation,” clarifies Hasna with relief. Today, Hasna is the breadwinner of her family. “I pay for their uniforms, I send them to school and I cook their food with just my salary, as my husband does not have a job these days,” says Hasna proudly.

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