The food security situation in Ethiopia has been rapidly deteriorating due to various factors including drought and rising food prices. The Government estimates that 75,000 children are severely malnourished in over a hundred drought-affected districts. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable. The most affected areas include Somali, Oromia, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples.

As the harvest is not due in most areas until late September, there are concerns that the situation may worsen in the next three months. In addition, the onset of rains from June to September makes children more prone to diarrhoea, which could be aggravated by the current levels of malnutrition. As many parts of the country have not yet been reached by this year’s immunisation campaigns, measles remains a threat, particularly among malnourished children.

UNICEF's response

As an immediate measure, UNICEF is providing therapeutic food to feeding centres and training health professionals to cope with increasing demands. During May alone, UNICEF sent 90 metric tons of therapeutic food to Ethiopia, along with 7.8 tons of therapeutic milk and medicines for the treatment of 9,000 severely malnourished children. To prevent outbreaks of diarrhoea, UNICEF has provided support by distributing community treatment centres kits and transporting medicines to affected communities.

The current crisis is also affecting children’s education as fewer children are attending school in drought affected areas.

Whilst much work has been done to identify and respond to children before they become severely malnourished, this progress is being compromised by a shortfall of funds. We need an additional 4,000 metric tons of therapeutic food well, as emergency medicines and measles vaccines, to cover the next three months.

We are appealing for £25 million to provide immediate assistance to these children.

Find out more about Ethiopia

• Listen to an audio feature about the current situation
• Watch Ewan McGregor's video message about Ethiopia
• Read a feature article about UNICEF UK's response to the crisis
• View a photogallery of children affected by the drought
• Read the latest news on Ethiopia

Horn of Africa food crisis

More than 14 million people in the Horn of Africa are now in urgent need of food and other humanitarian assistance. Drought, combined with rocketing food and fuel prices, is crippling local agricultural production and seriously jeopardising the livelihoods of millions of people who, due to chronic poverty, conflict and displacement, already live on the margins of survival.

• Read an info sheet on the Horn of Africa (pdf)