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Facts on Ethiopia
-1 in 10 children will die before their 5th birthday
-7.2 million people need immediate food assistance
-2/3 of children are malnourished 
-Less than 1 in 4 has access to clean drinking water 

Ethiopia is one of the world's poorest countries. Almost half of its population lives well below the poverty line and around 7 million Ethiopians do not have the income to buy daily rations of food.

Droughts and war
Ethiopia depends on agriculture, but recurring droughts over the past 30 years have left its farmers struggling to provide enough food for the country. Violent changes in government and conflicts with neighboring countries have also created instability and poverty. The average Ethiopian now lives on 25 cents a day.

Somali Region
Among the most destitute communities are nomads in Ethiopia's Somali region. Rains have failed in the Somali region since 2003, devastating the livestock that approximately 85% of the region's people depend on entirely for survival. The region is also home to tens of thousands of refugees who entered Ethiopia to escape a ten-year conflict in Somalia. The Somali region is made up of 52 districts, and according to the Ethiopian government, the people of 50 of these districts require emergency support to help them survive.

Islamic Relief in Ethiopia
Islamic Relief opened its office in Ethiopia in January 2004 and began working in the Somali region. Islamic Relief is working with local communities to improve education, health provision, and water and sanitation.