A special message from our Chair of Trustees
With this year marking the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, I am aware that Ethiopia will be in the press, with recollections of the devastating famine of 1984 on our minds. I am sure many of you, like me, have strong memories of the Live Aid concert at Wembley stadium and the extraordinary swell of support from all over the world.
It wasn’t long after the famine that my father Sir Alec Reed, Ethiopiaid’s founder, first visited Ethiopia. He was deeply affected by the widespread hardship and poverty.
However, what struck my father most was the entrepreneurial spirit of the local charity leaders and their commitment to alleviating poverty and building better futures for their communities. He strongly believed that by investing in the skills and expertise of local Ethiopian NGOs, together we could make a huge difference. We continue our partnerships with local organisations to this day.
Despite an impressive amount of development in Ethiopia over the past 40 years, progress has been complicated by compounding crises. Internal conflict, environmental instability, unprecedented inflation and major cuts to foreign aid budgets means our support is needed more than ever.
At Ethiopiaid we pride ourselves on providing long-term assistance, listening to the communities we’re working closely with. We don’t just respond to crises as they happen but continue to support after other emergency agencies withdraw.
The only way we can provide this responsive support is with the committed generosity of our loyal supporters. I cannot thank you enough.
Alex Chapman
Chair of Trustees
The famine of 1984
This year marks 41 years since the devastating famine of 1984 in Ethiopia, one of the most tragic humanitarian crises of the 20th century.
People experienced incomprehensible suffering. An estimated one million people died, and millions more were displaced and left with nothing.
On 23 October 1984 BBC reporter Michael Buerk and Kenyan photojournalist Mohamed Amin covered the famine crisis. The news broadcast defined a new age of television journalism and brought the famine that was devastating the Horn of Africa to our living rooms.
Listen to excerpts from the news broadcast in this BBC Witness History episode. >>
The documentary also marked a turning point that brought global attention to issues of hunger, poverty, and inequity. Those devastating images prompted unprecedented international aid and solidarity efforts. The famine, caused by a combination of drought, conflict, and economic instability, exposed the vulnerabilities of millions living in rural Ethiopia.
As we reflect on the events of 40 years ago, hunger and food insecurity remain as enormous challenges to millions of people in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has made significant strides since then. Life expectancy has almost doubled since 1984. The rates of child marriage in most regions have declined significantly, as have the number of maternal deaths. Literacy has increased considerably in most parts of the country, which is a huge factor in improving lives and futures.
However, there are still people who need our help.
According to the World Health Organisation, birth complications count as the second most common cause of death in Ethiopia. Millions of girls and women are living with the devastating consequences of female genital mutilation, and Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of obstetric fistula anywhere in the world. In rural areas, education levels are still far too low, particularly amongst girls and women.
As in 1984, conflict and inequity continue to exacerbate crises. And now, we are also seeing the effects of climate change, which is causing more unpredictable, frequent, and severe weather events. The anniversary of Live Aid serves as a sombre reminder that the fight against extreme hunger and poverty is far from over.
Your memories of Live Aid
We would love to hear your memories from that time, and how that shaped your connection to Ethiopia. You can get in touch by emailing support@ethiopiaid.org.uk
One Response
Great work!