Stemming rural depopulation in Ethiopia

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Stemming rural depopulation in Ethiopia

http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/stemming-rural-depopulation-in-ethiopia/

by Samuel Schlaefli on March 12, 2012

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Fasil Giorghis’ office in the centre of Addis Ababa affords a good view of the Ethiopian capital. There are building sites wherever you look: grey concrete structures with protruding armouring irons, sheathed in scaffolding made from eucalyptus trees.

The pressure on cities is enormous. The Ethiopian population has doubled to 91 million people in less than thirty years. It is estimated that up to 1,200 people a day are streaming into Addis Ababa from the countryside. They are hoping for a better life with access to clean drinking water, hospitals and schools.

Although the standard of living in the city of three million people is higher than in rural areas, over half the population here live in self-built huts made from plastic sheets, wooden boards and corrugated iron, with no sanitation or electricity.

“We are at a turning point,” warns Fasil Giorghis. “If we don’t manage to stop the rural depopulation then we’re heading for a catastrophic situation in the cities.”...