ETHIOPIA

According to the United Nations, over 43 million people in the Horn of Africa are currently living through one of the worst droughts in recent history, caused by five consecutive years of low rainfall.

This has had severe consequences in Ethiopia where more than 5 million people are now experiencing malnutrition, including 72 % of children. In some particularly badly affected regions more than a quarter of children under the age of two and 28 % of breastfeeding women are suffering from malnutrition.

Food insecurity, malnutrition, lack of access to water and a rise in epidemics and disease have been observed, especially in the south and east of the country where agricultural production has been severely affected.

Médecins du Monde provides support to 19 health centres and 55 health posts in Tigray and Afar Regions. These centres have received equipment, training for healthcare staff and support with infrastructure refurbishment.

Communities have benefited from free access to primary healthcare and support with referrals to secondary healthcare services for quality care and treatment. Our work also includes specific activities around malnutrition, mental health and responding to gender-based violence. Through our community approach we have been able to train 463 health workers and local volunteers, as well as providing awareness-raising activities.

Mobile clinics have also been used to reach the most remote communities and people displaced by conflict.

In 2024, over 50,000 consultations were provided, 6,775 children were treated for malaria, diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections, and support was provided to 300 people affected by gender-based violence.