In a country most Canadians consider synonymous with famine, a massive food shortage is emerging.

This famine in Ethiopia has many causes and effects. This guide is designed to give time-starved readers a quick understanding of some of the main issues.

Minute 1: What is the Problem?
A severe famine is affecting millions in Ethiopia, leaving many at risk for acute malnutrition or death.

• Ethiopia has a history of high food insecurity and famine. This famine is different however, because rising food prices have compounded the situation.
• Besides food costs, recurring drought and flooding has made farming difficult for over 83 per cent of the population who live in rural areas and farm their own food.
• According to UNICEF, children are at serious risk of dying in the hardest hit areas.

Minute 2: Who is Affected?
Around 4.6 million people are in urgent need of food—this number has more than doubled in the last two months. Of this group, 75,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition.

• In most communities, food prices have shot up by 50 per cent, forcing some children and adults to eat wild leaves for food.
• As with most crises, children under five and nursing mothers are the groups hardest hit by famine.

Minute 3: Why is This Happening?
Issues like crop failure, high food costs, drought, flooding and crop and livestock disease have contributed to Ethiopia’s food shortage.

• The price of teff grain—used in most Ethiopian meals—has more than doubled in the last year, while lentils have quadrupled. A 20 per cent inflation rate has also hindered access to basic food items.  
• An unusually dry rainy season along with later flooding has severely affected the availability of food, water and pasture.
• Worsening matters, destructive army worms are consuming crops that have recently been planted.

Minute 4: What is World Vision Doing?
World Vision has worked in Ethiopia for 33 years and is well positioned and experienced to deal with this crisis.

• In consultation with the Ethiopian government and other humanitarian agencies, World Vision Ethiopia has started emergency distributions of food and non-food relief, including, water, seeds and essential drugs.
• In addition, two Stabilization Centres have been established in Southern Ethiopia with a third opening soon, to help revive severely malnourished children.
• World Vision projects in the affected areas are purchasing and distributing pesticides to help control pests that are eating recently planted crops.

Minute 5: What You Can Do
The global food crisis has exacerbated the famine in Ethiopia.

By donating to the food crisis, you will help World Vision provide food aid and enable food production for communities affected by the shortage. Click here to donate.