Ethiopia

Crisis in Northern Ethiopia

Conflict, displacement, climate extremes and economic shocks are driving a hunger crisis in Ethiopia.

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Hunger Stats

Ethiopia is facing a tragic combination of conflict and climate shocks. Nearly 16 million people are food insecure because of drought, floods, conflict and economic shocks.

5.5M

people are severely food insecure.

55%

of all children aged under 5 are malnourished.

2/3

of Ethiopians live in poverty.

Ethiopia Facts

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Population: 135 million

Background: Ethiopia has been a country for over 2,000 years, and was only briefly colonized during World War II.

Geography & Climate: Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa. The country has diverse terrain, from high plateaus and rugged mountains to arid lowlands. The climate also varies widely—cool in the highlands, hot and dry in the lowlands, and prone to both seasonal rains and recurrent droughts.

Economy: Ethiopia’s has a large economy driven by agriculture, with coffee as one of its major exports. Despite growth, unemployment is a challenge and about 2/3 live in poverty.

Causes of Hunger

Conflict

Conflict has become one of the main drivers of hunger and malnutrition in Ethiopia. It's severely disrupted farming, trade, and humanitarian access, leaving millions without reliable food sources. Fighting has displaced communities and destroyed crops and infrastructure.

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Drought

Droughts in Ethiopia are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. They reduce water availability and destroy crops and livestock, directly limiting food production. Rural communities that rely on subsistence farming and pastoralism are especially vulnerable, facing food shortages when there's little rain.

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Poverty

Poverty, high unemployment, and rising food prices in Ethiopia limit households’ ability to purchase enough nutritious food, even when it is available. Many families rely on low-income agricultural or informal work, making them highly vulnerable to economic shocks and inflation. This economic vulnerability exacerbates hunger and malnutrition.

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History of Hunger

1983–1985

Famine

Severe drought, combined with civil war, caused widespread famine in northern Ethiopia. It killed hundreds of thousands of people and prompted one of the largest humanitarian responses from WFP and partners.

1991-

Government Change

The overthrow of the ruling regime led to a change in government, which caused instability and conflict. This displaced people and required emergency food assistance.

1998–2000

Eritrea War

Armed conflict along the northern border disrupted agriculture, displaced hundreds of thousands, and strained food aid delivery to affected regions.

2002–2003

Drought

Consecutive years of poor rainfall led to drought, which prompted emergency food assistance from WFP.

2020–2022

Tigray Conflict

Armed conflict in Tigray, along with flooding and desert locust infestations, caused massive displacement, disrupted agriculture, and created acute hunger and malnutrition. WFP was there providing emergency food aid.

WFP’s Work in Ethiopia

We’ve been present in Ethiopia since 1968, using food assistance to empower women, transform areas affected by the climate crisis and keep children in school.