Ethiopia food crisis
At least 6.2 million Ethiopians — one million of whom are children under the age of five — will need emergency food aid between now and the end of the year.
One in seven children dies before their fifth birthday in Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 80% live on less than US$2 a day. Escalating food prices and higher transport costs mean more people are going hungry, and are unable to afford food for themselves or their families.
Thomas, 1, has his arm circumference measured at Tulla Health Center in Southern Ethiopia. His mother has brought him to Save the Children's clinic to be tested for severe malnutrition.
Thomas has a weight and height test.
Mothers and children wait at Tulla Health Center.
Matheos and his wife Ayalech are parents of four young children. Like many other poor families they are suffering from the food crisis.
Ayalech cooks salty wild cabbage for her 4 children. With no other food available the family eat this 3 times a day.
Save the Children staff nurse Yenealem Alemu, 45, talks to a child at Danama Health Centre.
Save the Children staff nurse Hasan Ibrahim measures Maru, 3.
Thomas has his ankles inspected as part of a screening for symptoms of severe acute malnutrition.
Sister Almaz, a nurse, checks a child's temperature.
A child eats therapeutic food.
Save the Children’s reponse
Save the Children is currently working to help nearly 900,000 people in six of the worst-affected regions. We're setting up work schemes to provide parents with a way to earn food and money, providing clean water, emergency feeding and healthcare for malnourished children, delivering veterinary drugs and animal feed to help families keep their animals alive.
With over 800 staff on the ground, we've launched a major emergency response in six of the worst affected areas in Ethiopia. These are the eastern and arid southern parts of the country, including Oromiya, the Southern Nations Nationalities and People's Region (SNNPR), Somali and Afar Regions, and parts of Amhara and Tigray.
What you can do
Save the Children is appealing for $20 million to support the millions of children affected by Ethiopia's food crisis.
- Make a donation online to Save the Children's Ethiopia Food Crisis Emergency Appeal or call our emergency appeal line on 0800 8148 148 to give.
- Find out how you can fundraise for Save the Children.
