Assess The Role Of Malnutrition In Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country found in the mid-east of Africa. It is surrounded by several countries including Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Eritrea. High amounts of rainfall in Ethiopia has resulted in the death and homelessness of thousands of people. Around 100 people have lost their lives in the past month in Ethiopia due to flash floods and landslides caused by their high rainfall, at least 20,000 have become homeless because of the same reason and even more have lost valuable cattle and crops. Ethiopia has a population of over 75 million and it has been rapidly increasing in the last 2 decades resulting in the construction of more and more buildings causing land for farming and cattle to be used up. The majority of

Ethiopia is a country that creates image of starving. In 1980, many countries of east Africa had drought, and political unrest so people displaced from their shelter to camping, In addition when people moves to other place from their village or town, due to civil war, it is hard to produce crops or grain for food. Therefore those all causes refuges who lives in camps specifically in Ethiopia in 1980. During that time Ethiopia asked aid for the United Nations so the united nation were showing to the world about Ethiopian famine so that it could get assistance from the world. European countries and America assisted to Ethiopia to receive food, medicine, and other material. While Ethiopian economic is growing fast in the world by 10.3 per year

Recurring floods and droughts affect agricultural productivity and food security in Niger while eighty percent of the population depends on agriculture. According to the 2014 nutrition survey using SMART (Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions nutrition) the global acute malnutrition rate has reached 14.8%, close to the emergency threshold of 15% set by the WHO. This rate is higher than in the previous survey conducted in 2013 (13.3%). the situation is further aggravated by flows of refugees and returning migrants due to the situation in Libya, the armed groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria, and Mujao from Mali which threatening the country 's economic growth. [UNICEF (2015).Aperçu des besoins humanitaires Niger][Plan de reponse 2015]. Nevertheless, through the 3 Initiative “Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens”, the government has made a commitment to tackle malnutrition and address food insecurity and agricultural sustainability issues. [ Niger: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper]p139-281

It is amazing what others can do to help those in need. When considering the lack of education and high poverty rates in Ethiopia, knowing the low percentages of these rates, my ethical belief, a good solution, and the several advantages of the solution will help us improve the Ethiopian’s lives.

To compound the issues, in the last two years limited rain fall has caused the worst drought in over 60 years. The already overwrought food situation exponentially worsted as crops and livestock die due to water shortages. As a result the numbers of refugees have recently increased dramatically, with over 330,000 Somalis seeking refuge since January of 2011, (UNHCR, 2011).

Poverty is one of the most prevalent issues in our world today. In many third world countries, most of citizens live in poverty. Somalia is one of these third world countries that have extreme rates of poverty. There are many factors that have led to these major rates of poverty. Somalia’s economy is very bad because of the high unemployment rates and piracy. Because of the civil war that happened in Somalia, the government is not able to help decrease poverty levels. Lack of education in the country makes it difficult for people to get jobs. The economy, the government and the education levels are some of the most prevalent issues leading to this high rate of poverty within Somalia.

Have you ever skipped a meal and realized how hungry you were? Now imagine skipping all your meals, imagine not having the option to get food and worst of all, imagine watching a loved family member die of hunger. This is what hundreds of thousands of Somalians went through during the famine. Half of the killed were children under the age of five, this being said this was one of the worst famines in the last 28 years. Tens of thousands of Somalians fled their homes in search of food. The main part of the famine took place in 2011 when an extreme drought affected more than thirteen million people across the horn of Africa. In result of this drought, prices for food skyrocketed; parents watched helplessly as their family members died one by one. Political instability made the chances of the famine getting better as quick as

There are several risk factors that impact children’s health in Ethiopia. For example, vitamin A deficiency stunts children’s growth. Mothers are unable to properly breastfeed so the child doesn’t fully develop as they should. Immune systems weaken in children as well, causing them to die from diseases that are easily treatable. Since the HIV/aids rate is so high in women, children also are transmitted the disease and end up dying. Another factor is that children don’t receive proper care from their families or health services. It is also estimated that over 150,000 children live on the streets in Ethiopian cities (Humanium • We make children's rights happen, 2017). That results in improper hygiene and lack of sanitation. As mentioned already,

Malnutrition continues to be a major health burden throughout the developing world, especially in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Each form of malnutrition depends on what nutrients are missing in the diet, for how long and at what age. The most basic kind results from a deficiency in all major macronutrients, such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates, called protein-energy malnutrition. Other forms of malnutrition are less obvious, but not necessarily less deadly. They are usually the result of a diet lacking in micronutrients, such as electrolytes, minerals and vitamins. Deficiencies of iron, vitamin A and zinc are ranked among the World Health Organization's top 10 leading causes of death through disease in developing countries. (WFP,

The scorching heat from the sun has made it’s grand appearance, with no desire to leave anytime soon. California is in its fourth consecutive year of drought, this year being the worst. California’s nearly $30 billion agricultural export industry has hit rock bottom. This is a huge issue considering California produces two-thirds of the United States’ produce. The people of the United States feel unstable because of the lack of produce in the near future. On the other hand, in 2011, Eastern Africa experienced a drought which resulted in an average of 10,000 deaths per day. The reason so many deaths occurred was because of the lack of water needed to grow food, resulting in less food for the native men, women and children. Does this drought in Africa really make such an extreme impact as to that of California’s? The difference of sustainability in first world countries as to third world countries is astonishing. Countries with fewer resources lack the sustainability, whereas countries with plenty of resources, do not. These two similar situations differ because of the need to solve the problem at hand: drought.

All throughout Ethiopia’s history there has never been a famine so disastrous as the one that occurred 1984. Throughout the period of drought and misery a total of eight million people were at risk of starvation. Not only that but in october 1984 the death toll was at two hundred thousand and an estimated of two thousand people would die each day. As each month changed so did the death toll. Though the relationship was the more time that passed the more people were at risk. (Nwaozuzu). Reporters who visited to help said that “People looked more like skeletons than human beings” (Fradin 55). There was also recorded to be a 5 year old that only weighed 27 pounds, less than a small dog (Thurow). Altogether, almost all the population of Ethiopia was effected by the Famine.

How they did not adapt to fit the drought: From there adoptions were not taken with the sudden environment change people had no way to fit back. Currently, 12 million are living in the drought. Communities are collapsed and livelihoods destroyed (Girard, 2011). Refugee Camps are being pushed to the limit holding 400,000 people when designed for the capacity of 90,000(Stewart). This is only the begin of the struggle because so many people are already trying to help, but war torn countries continue.

12.7 million smallholders don’t have the resources or money to deal with the changes in weather which means they are likely to not have enough food or water ending in food insecurity. There are 730,000 refugees who all need food which the people who already liv there don’t have and they also don’t have the skills to help grow and produce food. The refugees are causing the little food Ethiopia have to disappear quickly

Malnutrition is the lack of proper nutrition, caused by an insufficient quantity or quality of food being consumed. People in poverty are the most affected by malnutrition. In fact, “several studies have reported that poverty, inadequate access to a balance diet and underlying diseases (tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhea, etc.) contribute to high levels of malnutrition” (Juma). “Death and disease in developing countries are often primarily a result of malnutrition,” which disproportionately harms those in poverty (Juma). Thus, malnutrition disproportionately harms people in poverty but can be prevented through a conscious effort to offer nutritious food to these people.

Ethiopia is a country located in east central Africa. Its area is approximately 1.1 million square kilometres, with a population of around 102 million (2016). Ethiopia's capitol, Addis Baba is located at 8.9806° N, 38.7578° E. Addis Baba is situated in central Ethiopia, it is approximately 2464 kilometres south south East of Cairo the capitol of Egypt. The country is bordered by 6 other countries;