The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis

Case Study
32 Forum 2009: Climate Change – The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis
Ethiopia — Drought, flooding and
diarrhoea outbreaks cause death
and suffering
As seasonal rains stop falling, drought sets in and severe food shortages prevail across many
parts of Ethiopia, affecting approximately 25 million of the 78 million Ethiopians. 96 Approximately
100,000 children are believed to suffer acute malnutrition, 96 and over 46 percent 97 of the population
is malnourished. 98 Over the past two decades, five major droughts have occurred in this country,
leaving many families unable to recover and pushed to the brink of survival. 98 Agriculture accounts for
over half of GDP and employs more than 80 percent of the labour force, but less than 1 percent of
farming land is irrigated and drought quickly brings food shortages. 98 Weakened by food shortages,
people are more susceptible to diseases like diarrhoea. Dehydration caused by diarrhoea kills
approximately 20,000 children every year in Ethiopia, and 40 percent of the population does not have
access to improved water sources such as piped water, protected springs or hand-pumps.
When it finally does rain, it pours and further deaths and suffering result. Rain variability and
severity is increasing in many areas, triggering some of the worst floods in Ethiopia’s history
during 2006. 98 For example, flash floods in Dire Dawa, the second largest city in Ethiopia, killed
almost 250 people and displaced thousands. 98 This increases the risk of diarrhoea. Over 400 people
died during an outbreak of acute diarrhoea in 2006. 98 The problem is likely to only worsen in the
future and further add to the disease burden in Ethiopia.
Key Sources: Red Cross and Oxfam