The Afar Region in northeastern Ethiopia is an extremely hot, arid, and desert-like area where rainfall is scarce and access to water is a persistent challenge. MSF has been present in Afar since 2022, providing critical support for children and mothers affected by malnutrition. MSF runs the Intensive Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC) ward treating children under five suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with complications. Since 2025, MSF started outreach activities to reach popualtions living far from the hospital to screen and treat children with SAM, providing therapeutic food such as Plumpy’Nut and providing referrals to the ITFC for severe cases with complications when needed.

The combination of intense heat, unsafe drinking water, long travel distances, and hard-to-reach health facilities continues to challenge families’ ability to access timely care. Strengthening health posts and health centres, supporting referral pathways, and improving continuity of care—such as through the new pharmacy construction at Dubti General Hospital—are important steps toward better outcomes.