Malnutrition During Recent Famines in Ethiopia

Abstract

Famine conditions are likely to persist for many years in Ethiopia despite the current peace process and restructuring efforts. There is an urgent need for a better understanding of the ecology of acute malnutrition, particularly the vulnerability of different populations and socioeconomic classes to famine, their coping strategies and nutritional deficiency diseases, and their mortality during times of disasters. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate of differential drought and famine occurrence and nutritional impact during Ethiopia's 1973-74 famine, when an estimated 250,000 people died, and during the 1984-85 famine, when about one million people died.1 This paper reviews selected works on vulnerability to famine and coping strategies because considerable social and economic activities and psychological and physiological adaptation to poverty and crisis have always been significant in reducing famine risk in Ethiopia and because their disruption is a major factor in the causation of famine.2 Analysis of the occurrence of malnutrition and associated mortality in different ecological settings and in relief shelters may contribute to an evaluation of the constraints experienced by communities and relief organizations in providing an adequate food supply. Asmerom Ridane analyzed results of interviews in Metekel and Gambela resettlement schemes and concluded that the consequences of the 1984-85 famine were general, affecting rural populations in northern Ethiopia regardless of socioeconomic status and place of residence.3 The perception that this was an indiscriminately severe famine is strength-