Ethiopian Famine

From 1984–85, around eight million people in Ethiopia and Eritrea were affected by a severe famine caused by extremely low rainfalls and an ongoing process of desertification. Lacking government assistance and facing political unrest, one million people are estimated to have died as a result of the famine. The Ethiopian government forced nearly 600,000 farmers to migrate to the country’s south, where they found themselves without assistance; many died while attempting to return. Media images and reports of starving people, especially those of dying children, led to a wave of donations and relief programs throughout the world. Famine relief events such as “Band Aid” and “Live Aid” further succeeded in raising public awareness.