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Background
Situated in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is home to over
67 million people. It is one of the world’s poorest
countries, with over 75 percent of the population living on
less than US$2 a day. Ethiopia is prone to drought and this
has a serious impact on the 80 percent of Ethiopians employed
in the agriculture sector. Many farmers cannot produce enough
food for their family, forcing millions of people to rely
heavily on food assistance. Past conflict and natural disasters
have placed major strain on the economy. The country suffers
from high foreign debt and lacks basic infrastructure, like
roads and bridges. Access to education and health care is
almost impossible for many living in remote areas. HIV/AIDS
is a major problem in Ethiopia with over one million women
infected.
World Vision Australia is working with communities
in Ethiopia. Below are examples of funded projects:
Area Development Programs (ADPs)
There are currently more than 19,000 children and their families
benefiting from ADPs in Ethiopia. Primary health care programs
provide immunisation and hygiene and nutrition education.
Projects training farmers to increase crop yields, improve
crop storage, and care for the environment are also supported.
Adults are encouraged to explore ways to generate income and
the projects run training programs to help them with this.
Safe Motherhood Project
Fistula and the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
are common in this region. Working with traditional birth
attendants, the Safe Motherhood Project focuses on female
health care. This project also includes a HIV/AIDS prevention
and awareness component.
Water and Sanitation Project
This project is currently funded by the Australian public
and has so far laid over 80 kilometres of pipeline, providing
54,000 people clean drinking water for the first time in their
lives. The new water supply enabled communities to establish
nurseries and plant fruit and timber trees. A micro-flood
irrigation system has also been installed. The next phase
of the project is focused on improving sanitation and addressing
food security.
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