Emergency Cash Assistance in Tabia Yaqer, Kola Tembien

RDF’s Response

In September 2025, RDF Canada launched a targeted cash assistance initiative to fill these gaps and restore dignity and choice to affected households.

Key steps included:

• Partnerships: RDF signed an MoU with a trusted intermediary, who formalized the agreement with the regional government’s charitable affairs representative.

• Financial Oversight: A dedicated bank account was established with three approved signatories, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Media Coverage: RDF invited Tigray TV and Dimtsi Weyane to document the initiative, reinforcing public trust.

• Beneficiary Selection: In collaboration with local officials, 200 vulnerable households were identified—prioritizing elders, women with young children, and families previously featured in media reports.

• Fundraising: RDF raised over CAD 10,000 (more than 1 million Ethiopian Birr) through community donations across Canada and the U.S.

• Distribution: Each household received 5,000 Birr in cash, delivered through RDF’s intermediary in coordination with local leaders.

Our Commitment

At RDF Canada, we view emergency aid as a bridge—not just to survival, but to renewal. Every initiative we undertake is rooted in the belief that communities thrive when they are equipped to lead their own recovery with dignity, transparency, and lasting strength.

Acknowledgment

RDF Canada extends heartfelt thanks to the Tigrayan and Ethiopian diaspora across Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec, and the United States, including:

• The Quebec Tigray Community

• The congregation of St. Michael’s Tigray Orthodox Church

• Individual donors and volunteers who stood in solidarity

Special appreciation goes to the chairman and vice-chairman of Tabia Yaqer, the Economic Development and Food Security Coordinator of Kola Tembien, and our intermediary journalist Ashenafi Dargie, whose leadership and dedication were instrumental in making this initiative possible.

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RDF Canada extends heartfelt thanks to the Tigrayan and Ethiopian diaspora across Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec, and the United States, including:

• The Quebec Tigray Community

• The congregation of St. Michael’s Tigray Orthodox Church

• Individual donors and volunteers who stood in solidarity

Special appreciation goes to the chairman and vice-chairman of Tabia Yaqer, the Economic Development and Food Security Coordinator of Kola Tembien, and our intermediary journalist Ashenafi Dargie, whose leadership and dedication were instrumental in making this initiative possible.

Addressing Systemic Vulnerability in Kola Tembien

The humanitarian crisis in Kola Tembien, Tigray, is not solely the result of drought—it reflects deeper structural challenges. Despite the presence of the Tekeze River, nearby communities remain without access to sustainable water infrastructure. This disconnect, compounded by years of government neglect and underinvestment, has left families vulnerable to hunger, disease, and displacement.

At RDF Canada, we recognize that lasting resilience cannot be built on emergency aid alone. Our commitment is to support community-led solutions that address both immediate needs and the systemic barriers that perpetuate vulnerability. Through transparent partnerships, responsive action, and advocacy rooted in dignity, we aim to help communities move from crisis to self-reliance.