Ethiopia
![Mulu Gebre Kiros working in the fields of Mekelle with her baby on her back [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-us/where-we-work/ethiopia/images/woman-with-baby-mekelle/1216314-1-eng-GB/woman-with-baby-mekelle_1column50_nospace_landscape.jpg)
Considered one of Africa’s most populated and poorest countries, Ethiopia is faced with frequent droughts and food shortages
More than 40 per cent of the country’s 74 million people are living below the poverty line of less than one dollar a day.
The majority of Ethiopians rely on farming and cattle-herding to feed their families and make a living. Agriculture also provides 60 per cent of the country’s exports which include coffee, meat, oilseed and leather.
But an increasing number of droughts, irregular rains and poor soil caused by overgrazing and deforestation mean that crops and livestock are suffering. Currently the food production of over 13 million people is at risk.
CAFOD shares a jointly-managed office, programme, strategy and staff with our sister agencies Trocaire and SCIAF, reducing the burden on our local partners and helping us be more effective in our work together.
We support work on improving long-term farming conditions such as the small scale raising of water tables. Our work also includes supporting people living with HIV and community building.
IN 2011, Ethiopia and its neighbours were the focus of our major East Africa Crisis appeal , providing emergency food rations to malnourished children, pregnant women, and new mothers. We are also supplying herding communities with water and animal feed.
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“I tie rope around my stomach,” says 70-year-old Ayapan, “and then I drink hot water. That is how I cope with hunger.” |
 | Ethiopia: building hope for the future Thanks to your amazing generosity, we are helping families to survive the current drought – and to prepare for an uncertain future. |
 | East Africa crisis: how you have helped Thanks to your remarkable compassion, we have reached more than 250,000 people. |
 | International Women's Day: Ethiopia “Having a job within the cooperative has made me more confident, I can now discuss issues with my husband as an equal." |
 | East Africa food crisis: helping today; securing tomorrow When drought hit East Africa in 2009, 6.2 million families needed lifesaving intervention. In 2010, aid-worker Birhanu Waka returned to one of the worst-hit areas – and thanks to your help, discovered stories of hope. |
