Ethiopia

Conflict, climate-related shocks and disease outbreaks have left millions of people in Ethiopia displaced from their homes and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

More than 2 million women of reproductive age and over 188,000 pregnant women are struggling to access life-saving healthcare as the conflict has left infrastructure destroyed and created a critical shortage of providers.

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries, with more than 1 million seeking refuge there in 2025 – many of them women and children – which places further pressure on the already overstretched health system. 

The overlapping crises have brought increased risks of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as a rise in reports of harmful practices such as early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Around 7 million women and girls are estimated to be in need of protection and response services in 2025.

UNFPA is on the ground across Ethiopia, working with partners – particularly women-led organizations – to provide health and protection services that are critical to the well-being and survival of women and girls. This includes providing emergency obstetric care for pregnant women, comprehensive medical and psychosocial support for survivors of gender-based violence, and distributing essential medicines, equipment and supplies for health facilities and hospitals.

Updated 19 November 2025