Zenebu Tesema, aged 50 and a mother of nine, is a resident of Seru Abas village, about 300 km south east of the capital.

Zenebu used to sell firewood and green grass to feed her nine children before ActionAid began a women's self help group in her village about a year ago.

She borrowed 500 birr from the group and changed her business to selling grains and other food items - a less demanding and more profitable venture at that time.

Unfortunately with the steady increase in the price of food, and goods generally, Zenebu finds herself struggling once more.

"The price of food items is soaring. I am obliged to quit buying and selling the small things as I have nothing to feed my children.

"I prefer to buy food for the family no matter how long this will feed us. I used the money I got in loan from the women's credit and saving group as this is the only money I had," she said.

Zenebu has no land, the only assets she has are the five sheep she bought using the money she borrowed from the self help group. She and her children are sheltering in a dilapidated small room offered by a benevolent resident in the area.

Zenebu and the other members of the self help group attend a literacy class where they are taught how to read and write and do simple calculations that will help in their small business.

The price increase in food items and other goods was aggravated by the failure of the seasonal rains during February to April.