Ethiopia

Population: 77 million

Life Expectancy: 48 years

Infant Mortality: 109 per 1000 live births

Mortality under age 5: 164 per 1000 live births

Has Safe Water: 22 percent of total population; 11 percent of rural population

Has Adequate Sanitation: 13 percent of total population; 7 percent of rural population

Religion: 51 percent Orthodox; 10 percent Protestant; 33 percent Muslim; 5 percent traditional beliefs 

National Wealth: Booming national churches; rich cultural wealth and development beginning in the 12th century; good agricultural land

National Challenges: Conflict with Eritrea over access to the sea and the port of Dijibouti; mountainous terrain complicates transportation and supply lines to rural areas; lack of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene education

Lifewater: In 2006 Lifewater worked with a indigenous megachurch in Ethiopia, strengthening its existing water development program with training in hygiene, sanitation, and hand pump repair. Lifewater’s partner repaired a total of 40 hand pumps and trained 182 nationals in hand pump repair. A total of 115 new hygiene trainers were equipped to teach community health through hygiene, and 762 villagers received this hygiene education. An estimated 10,800 people received safe water as a result of the work of Lifewater and its Ethiopian partners in 2006. Lifewater added a new partner in 2006 which has the reach and influence to expand similar work into more regions.  

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