Salesian Missions Helps Feed Thousands in Ethiopia

Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children Partner to Feed More Than 2,500 Families

(ANS – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – February 3, 2026) – More than 2,500 families across 8 communities in Ethiopia had access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions of New Rochelle and Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to “feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit.” The families have felt the impact of the ongoing strife in the Tigray region of the country.

A Salesian explained: “The war started in November 2020. Until the peace agreement was reached in November 2022, there were active clashes between the federal military and the regional force, and hundreds of thousands of people died on both sides. The food shortage began around November 2020, coinciding with the start of the conflict in Tigray. As the war unfolded, it worsened food access and contributed to the broader humanitarian crisis.”

Salesians have been a crucial lifeline for war-affected people in Tigray, operating primarily through established communities in Mekelle, Adigrat, Adwa, and Shire. Salesians address immediate humanitarian needs while also focusing on long-term recovery and resilience.

This donation was sent in partnership with Flexport.org, which managed the shipping and funded the shipping costs. Salesian Missions will partner with Flexport.org for additional upcoming humanitarian aid shipments.

Salesians have also organized and distributed food baskets containing essentials like wheat, rice, and oil to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and families facing food shortage-like conditions. They are running programs for the most vulnerable, especially malnourished children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, providing high-nutrient food like fortified flour to combat acute malnutrition. They are also providing non-food items like blankets, mattresses, and other items.

With infrastructure broken, Salesians have taken on projects to restore clean water access. They are currently working to repair damaged wells and boreholes in order to provide a more sustainable water source for local communities.

In addition, Salesians are providing education to children and skills training for older youths and adults. A Salesian explained, “Education is at the heart of what we do in these communities. Salesians have been instrumental in getting schools functional again by providing books and pens, repairing damaged classrooms, and paying incentive salaries for teachers who otherwise wouldn’t work. For children who have missed years of schooling, we also provide informal classes for internally displaced people, setting up temporary learning spaces to help them catch up. For older youths and adults, we provide access to skills training with short technical and vocational courses and startup kits to help them generate a small income.”

Salesians were in these communities well before the war started and will be there long after it’s done. The existing trust with the community means that Salesians can often operate when international non-governmental organizations are unable to gain access. This has been critical in assessing nutritional needs and ensuring that food shipments reach people most in need.

Source: Mission Newswire