Drought in Ethiopia

When has drought been a problem in a ethiopia and what were the impacts

Since the 1980s, the country has experienced many droughts, leading to famines and huge loss of life. 85% of the population live in rural areas, rely on agriculture and are dependent on rainfall and traditional technologies

what is the threat of drought in ethiopia

• Ethiopia relies on two rainy seasons throughout the year

  • Belg: afternoon showers become more frequent from February to May

  • Kiremt: rains nearly every day through the summer months and accounts for 50–80% of annual rainfall

what has happened to the seasons in ethiopia

• Ethiopia's first crop season depends on the belg rains, while the main agricultural season relies on the summer kiremt rains

• Since the 1980s, the short belg season has been getting shorter and increasingly delayed

• The longer kiremt season has become unpredictable

what has been a cause of drought in ethiopia

• Between 1950 and 2014, the population grew from 18.1 million to 96.5 million people, increasing the demand for water

• The rising standard of living, economic growth and industrial development all increase water demand 

• In urban areas, the demand for piped water and flush toilets has increased

what is a cause of drought involving the pacific

• Weather conditions over the Pacific, including an unusually strong El Niño, interrupted seasonal rains for two consecutive seasons

• Global warming has added to the problem of increasing temperatures and changes in weather patterns

what has been a social impact of drought involving the population

85% of the population live in rural areas and depends on farming

what has been a social impact of drought involving livestock/farming

The lack of rain led to crop failure and widespread loss of livestock, as high as 40%–60% in some areas, which decreased milk production as well as increasing a poor harvest

what has been a social impact involving disease

People suffered hunger and malnutrition, exposing them to disease due to reduced food supplies and increased food prices

what has been a social impact involving education

Many women and children had to walk up to 20 km to collect water, leaving less time for farming and school

what has been a social impact involving shelter

Wood and grasses used for building became scarce, leaving many people without protection from the weather

what has been a social impact involving water

63% of Ethiopians have access to an improved water source and so many rely on natural sources which dry up, causing them to travel many miles in search of water

what has been an economic impact involving prices

Cereal prices rose to record levels, while livestock prices and wages fell, reducing purchasing power across the region

what has been an economic impact involving migration

Many people migrated from rural to urban areas, increasing economic costs to the country

what has been an economic impact involving aid

Food and water aid needed for 20 million people

what has been an economic impact involving conflict

Conflict in northern Ethiopia caused $22.7 billion worth of damage to infrastructure and a further $6 billion of productivity losses

what has been an economic impact involving food/water insecurity

The ongoing food and water insecurity costs Ethiopia US$1.1 billion per year

what has been an environmental impact of drought involving overgrazing

Overgrazing and over-cultivation of drought-prone areas led to desertification and degradation of land

what has been an environmental impact involving wildfires

There was an increase in diseases in wildlife due to reduced water and food supplies

what has been an environmental impact involving vegetation

Wildfires: vegetation became very dry, and fires started and spread quickly. Over 200,000 hectares of forest were lost each year. In dried-up forest areas, wildfires destroyed plant and animal habitats and killed wildlife

what has been a governmental response to drought involving priorities

Ethiopian government produced the Humanitarian response plan in 2020 to reduce drought impact

what were some governmental priorities set in the humanitarian response plan

reduce mortality rate for the 12.3 million most vulnerable. provide critical services for the 8.3 million vulnerable and providing target programmes to support rebuilding livelihoods for 6.2 million people

what were some governmental responses involving aid

Overseas governments have given aid

In 2015, the USA gave $128.4 million in food aid

what are some organisational responses involving NGOs

Aid agencies such as Oxfam and UNICEF are helping to secure water supplies and provide medical care

Education charities are helping people secure jobs in urban areas

what were some individual responses involving charity

Large charity events such as Live Aid helped raise awareness and money