Country Risk Reduction Profile: Disaster Risk Reduction in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is plagued by significant rainfall deficit, particularly in pastoral areas of Eastern Ethiopia. Previous La Nña climate effects have impacted negatively on the lives and livelihoods of communities in southern Ethiopia, the area most often hit by famine. Drought conditions have resulted in poor pasture regeneration, which has led to reduced livestock production and body condition, as well as falling livestock prices. Save the Children’s interventions have focused on pastoral communities and include animal health/veterinary programmes and improving rangeland pastures and water supplies to ensure livestock survive – this is done to ensure that families are less susceptible to famine as a result of drought.