Ethiopia (Edexcel GCSE Geography A): Revision Notes
Weather and climate: Ethiopia drought case study
Introduction
Ethiopia serves as an important case study for understanding how drought affects people and ecosystems in emerging or developing countries. This East African nation has experienced repeated droughts that have had devastating consequences for both human populations and natural environments.
Ethiopia's location in the Horn of Africa makes it particularly vulnerable to climate variability, with its economy and society heavily dependent on predictable rainfall patterns for survival.
Background: Ethiopia's 2015 drought
Ethiopia has suffered from multiple severe droughts since the 1980s, but the 2015 drought stands out as particularly catastrophic. The country experienced shorter rainy seasons that became increasingly unpredictable, with the long rainy season arriving later than usual. This created a perfect storm of conditions that led to widespread hardship.
Critical Dependency on Agriculture
85% of Ethiopia's population lives in rural areas and depends entirely on agriculture for their survival. When the rains fail, the consequences ripple through every aspect of life.
The 2015 drought was estimated to be as severe as the infamous 1984 drought that prompted the global Live Aid response, making it the worst drought the country had experienced in 30 years.
Main hazards of the drought
The Ethiopian drought created several interconnected hazards that made the situation increasingly desperate:
Reduced crop yields became the primary concern, as failed harvests led directly to malnutrition and death among both people and livestock. Farmers who depended on predictable rainfall found their crops withering in the fields.
Extended water collection journeys became a daily reality for many families. Women and children, who traditionally collect water, had to walk much further to find clean water sources. This had serious knock-on effects, particularly for education, as children were kept out of school to help with water collection.
Widespread migration occurred as people abandoned their traditional communities in search of better conditions. Families were forced to break up as different members searched for ways to survive, fundamentally disrupting social structures that had existed for generations.
These hazards created a cascading effect where each problem made the others worse, trapping communities in cycles of increasing vulnerability and hardship.
Impacts on people
The drought's effects on Ethiopia's population were severe and wide-ranging:
Food security collapsed as livestock died and crop failures led to malnutrition. People became increasingly weak and vulnerable to diseases as their nutritional status declined. The death of cattle and other livestock created a food crisis that extended well beyond the immediate drought period.
Education systems suffered as girls especially had to walk much further to collect water, meaning they could no longer attend school regularly. This perpetuated cycles of poverty and reduced future opportunities for entire generations.
Health impacts multiplied as people's weakened state made them more susceptible to diseases. The combination of poor nutrition and contaminated water sources created ideal conditions for illness to spread.
Economic hardship intensified as traditional farming practices became impossible. Families lost their main sources of income, and without crops to sell, many could not afford to buy food even when it was available in markets.
Real Impact: Water Collection Challenges
Many families had to send women and children on journeys of up to 20 kilometres just to find clean water. This meant:
- Less time available for farming and income-generating activities
- Children missing school regularly
- Increased physical exhaustion and health risks
- Family structures breaking down as members spent days away from home
Impacts on ecosystems
The natural environment also suffered dramatically during the drought:
Wildlife habitat destruction occurred as water levels dropped in reservoirs, lakes and rivers. Species like the Dorkena Wetland fish populations declined significantly, affecting the entire food chain.
Disease spread among wild animals as reduced food and water supplies weakened animal populations, making them more vulnerable to illness and reducing biodiversity.
Massive Forest Loss
Ethiopia lost approximately 200,000 hectares of forest every year due to increased forest fires during the dry conditions. This deforestation reduced carbon storage and increased soil erosion, creating long-term environmental damage.
Species migration became necessary as animals moved away from their traditional habitats in search of water and food. This disrupted ecosystem balance and put additional pressure on areas that still had resources.
Responses to the drought
The international community, organisations, and individuals responded to the crisis in various ways:
Government responses included significant international aid packages. For example, the USA provided US$128.4 million in food aid specifically for Ethiopians affected by the 2015 drought. Other overseas governments also contributed substantial support.
Organisational support came from major aid agencies such as Oxfam and UNICEF, which focused on providing immediate water supplies to affected communities. Education charities also worked to help people find employment opportunities in urban areas, recognising that rural agriculture might not recover quickly.
Individual efforts played a crucial role, with large charity events similar to Live Aid helping to raise both awareness and funds for drought relief. These grassroots efforts demonstrated how individual actions can contribute to addressing large-scale humanitarian crises.
The three-tiered response approach (governments, organisations, and individuals) demonstrates how complex humanitarian crises require coordinated efforts at multiple levels to be effective.
Key examples and impacts
Specific Impact: Housing and Infrastructure
A clear example of the drought's widespread effects shows how these challenges affected daily life: many homes lost their roofs because the lack of rainfall meant that the plants and grasses traditionally used for roofing materials simply could not grow. This left families exposed to the elements during the few times when rain did fall, creating additional health and safety risks.
Water scarcity forced families to send women and children on journeys of up to 20 kilometres just to find clean water. This meant less time available for farming, education, and other essential activities, creating a cycle where the drought's effects became increasingly difficult to overcome.
Summary
Key Points to Remember:
- Ethiopia's 2015 drought was the worst in 30 years, affecting a country where 85% of people depend on agriculture for survival
- The main hazards included crop failure, extended water collection journeys, and forced migration of communities
- People suffered from malnutrition, educational disruption, and increased vulnerability to disease
- Ecosystems experienced habitat loss, species migration, and accelerated deforestation with 200,000 hectares of forest lost annually
- Responses included international government aid (like US$128.4 million from the USA), support from organisations like Oxfam and UNICEF, and individual charity efforts similar to Live Aid
- The crisis demonstrates how climate vulnerability in developing countries creates cascading effects across society and environment