Matheos Debena (34) and his wife Ayalech Bafe (30) are parents of four young children, Birhanesh (5, left) Birtokan (center), Kibenesh (2) and Maru (3)

Like many other poor families they are suffering from a food crisis, triggered by a lack of rain from January to April which led to the failure of the sweet potato harvest. Areas of Southern Ethiopia including Tulla and SNNPR, West Badawacha, are currently being affected by ‘green hunger'. This refers to the deceiving green and lush appearance of the landscape that is hiding the fact that drought has ruined edible crops and the food crisis makes buying food impossible for most families.

The food crisis has  been compounded by the global rise in food prices-including a rise in their other staple, maize - and a shortage of food throughout the country.