Ethiopia

HI works in Ethiopia with Somali refugees to improve inclusive access to humanitarian services. The organization also aims to improve people with disabilities’ inclusion in society, making sure that children with disabilities can go to school and that adults with disabilities are able to work and participate in community life.

A student with a visual disability learns Braille at school. | © M. Feltner / HI

Our actions

Humanity & Inclusion is working to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities and populations experiencing vulnerability in Ethiopia, ensuring the inclusion of refugees and internally displaced persons. The organization provides physical and functional rehabilitation services to people with injuries and disabilities and stimulation therapy for malnourished babies and children in refugee camps, to stimulate their growth and reduce the risk of developmental delay. HI also provides protection assistance and community-level support, including mental health services, to refugees, conflict-affected communities, people with specific needs and children in vulnerable circumstances. In the Tigray region, HI provides risk education activities and support to victims of armed violence.

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Rehabilitation

Life in a refugee camp as a teenager with a disability

Mouch fled from South Sudan to Ethiopia to escape the war. After arriving in the refugee camp, his left leg was amputated due to an infection. Now supported by Humanity & Inclusion, Mouch tells his story.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation improves mobility, wellness for Gatluak

Gatluak Muon used to find daily activities challenging and felt isolated from his community. With physical rehabilitation care from Humanity & Inclusion, he is already experiencing progress.

Inclusion

A new independence for Yabsera

Read Reisa V. Tomlinson's, U.S. Development Officer, reflection on a a recent field visit to Ethiopia.

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Background

Map of Humanity & Inclusion's interventions in Ethiopia

The second largest country in terms of population in Africa, Ethiopia has nearly 117 million inhabitants. Its demographic weight has been increased by the constant influx of refugees whose essential needs are barely met.

Ethiopia has long been considered as a stable country, but deep clan tensions and inter-communal violence persist. In November 2020, this resulted in the ongoing conflict between Tigrayan forces and the central government. Two decades of deadly conflict in the southeastern region of Ogaden had a severe impact on the Ethiopian ethnic Somali population.

Ethiopia periodically faces terrible droughts. This leads without exception to large numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance. Numbers grew from 8.4 million (2019) to 13 million in 2022. The country hosts people displaced by cross-border movements due to drought, conflict, political upheaval and civil wars in neighboring countries (Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan). There are also large numbers of internally displaced persons, forced to move due to drought and conflict.

Over the last 15 years, Ethiopia has undergone significant economic and social changes and has recorded some of the highest growth rates in the world- over 10% in some years. However, Ethiopia’s Human Development Index and its relative ranking have not moved significantly during the past decade. Health services are limited, notably those dedicated to people with disabilities. Ethiopia is also one of the Sub-Saharan African countries the worst affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Number of HI staff members: 96

Date the program opened: 1986