Since Ethiopian legislation banned foreign adoptions in January 2018, 5% of its entire population has remained orphaned.
STEADY INCREASE IN ETHIOPIAN STREET CHILDREN ORPHANED BY AIDS
UNICEF
Due to poverty, HIV, chronic illness, and lack of female empowerment programs, there are 5 million vulnerable children ranging from infancy to 18 years of age. Hundreds of private orphanages have been forced to close due to lack of funding, resulting in millions of vulnerable children often living their entire lives on the streets. With too many children and not enough domestic adoptions, government orphanages find themselves overburdened and unable to provide basic and emotional needs.
WHY THE CRISIS?
ORPHAN CARE ETHIOPIA
HOMELESS CHILDREN STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE ON THE STREETS OF ETHIOPIA’S CAPITAL
THE GUARDIAN
“Back in 2010 there were estimated to be 12,000 children living on the streets of Addis Ababa. NGOs estimate much higher figures today.”
Ethiopian legislation banned foreign adoptions in January 2018. Additionally, hundreds of private orphanages have been forced to close due to lack of funding, resulting in millions of vulnerable children often living their entire lives on the streets. With too many children and a stigma against domestic adoptions, remaining government orphanages find themselves over burdened and unable to provide basic physical and emotional needs.
“Over the past 15 to 20 years, a few major causes have served to blame, particularly the ravaging effects of HIV and AIDS, and crippling poverty that forces parents to abandon children they cannot afford to raise.”
ADDRESSING THE ORPHAN CRISIS IN ETHIOPIA
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
ETHIOPIA BANS FOREIGN ADOPTION
CNN