Malnutrition ravages Ethiopia communities

Jul 7, 2023

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By Miracle Ogunde

The rate of malnutrition has increased in Ethiopia following the suspension of food and relief aid to the country by international organizations.

According to the Medical charity Doctors Without Borders, MSF, food distribution from international aid agencies working in Ethiopia must be resumed, as more than 20 million people in Ethiopia rely heavily on food aid.

“Food distribution from international aid agencies working in Ethiopia must be resumed as “malnutrition rates surge”, medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said.

In a statement, MSF says that more than 20 million people in Ethiopia rely heavily on food aid and “even before the suspension came into effect our medical teams were witnessing alarmingly high rates of global acute malnutrition”.

“We already see that the food shortage is pushing vulnerable communities into harmful coping mechanisms, including selling assets as substitutes for food, begging, and child labour,” MSF medical coordinator Samreen Hussain said.

“This situation will only worsen with a protracted suspension of food aid.”