Since Ethiopian legislation banned foreign adoptions in January 2018, 5% of its entire population has remained orphaned.
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.
HOMELESS CHILDREN STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE ON THE STREETS OF ETHIOPIA’S CAPITAL
THE GUARDIAN
WHY THE CRISIS?
ORPHAN CARE ETHIOPIA
“Back in 2010 there were estimated to be 12,000 children living on the streets of Addis Ababa. NGOs estimate much higher figures today.”
ADDRESSING THE ORPHAN CRISIS IN ETHIOPIA
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
“13 percent of children throughout the country are missing one or both parents. This represents an estimated 4.6 million children – 800,000 of whom were orphaned by HIV/AIDS. ”
STEADY INCREASE IN ETHIOPIAN STREET CHILDREN ORPHANED BY AIDS
UNICEF
ETHIOPIA BANS FOREIGN ADOPTION
CNN