Researchers from Tufts University in the USA examine how people in different regions of Ethiopia have responded to persistent famines. In the highlands of Ethiopia, the risk of famine is recognised and early warning systems (EWS) are now in place to track food availability and rainfall.

In other areas, recurrent crises have reduced pastoralists’ ability to cope, as they have become destitute and no longer have reserves to deal with bad years. Pastoralists are traditionally more resilient to drought than other groups, because their way of life is better adapted to coping.

In the past, famine has been a major factor in overthrowing governments, so the current regime has focussed on these crises to avoid the unrest that saw the end of its predecessors. This has distracted attention from addressing the underlying causes of famine: rural destitution, the lack of employment options and the impact of the international economy (for example, the collapse in coffee prices).

Donors have also focussed on providing food aid during acute crises, with less attention on longer-term development efforts. Furthermore, pastoralists and other minority groups have little political influence: areas of strong government support have received more attention and assistance.

Comparing the crises of 1999-2000 and 2002-2003, the researchers found that:

While donors have committed to supporting short-term relief programmes during crises, there is little funding for rural development so that people can become self-sufficient again. The underlying causes of famine, and the political marginalisation of vulnerable groups, are not being addressed by donors or the government. The lessons from the two recent famines show that:

Source(s):
‘Why do famines persist in the Horn of Africa? Ethiopia, 1999-2003’ by Sue Lautze and Daniel Maxwell, iIn ‘The New Famines. Why famines persist in an era of globalization’ pages 222-242, Routledge: London, edited by Stephen Devereux, 2006
 

id21 Research Highlight: 14 December 2007

Further Information:
Daniel Maxwell
The Feinstein International Center
Tufts University
200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4800
Medford, MA 02155
USA

Tel: +1 617 6273423
Fax: +1 617 6273428
Contact the contributor: daniel.maxwell@tufts.edu

Tufts University, USA

BOOKS

Arrested Development in Ethiopia

Development, State and Society

Ethnicity and Inter-ethnic Relations: the ‘Ethiopian Experiment’

Book Reviews