In Half the Sky, Ethiopia was mention in Chapter 6...

Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa and lies west of Somalia. The size is slightly less than twice the size of Texas in the U.S. The climate can be described as tropical, and three major crops that originated in Ethiopia are coffee, grain sorghum, and the castor bean. The population is just over 73 million people and the life expectancy is around 49 years old. The birthrate is on average 5.3 per women. Ethnic Groups consist of Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurange 2% and other 1%. The religion is mostly Muslim 45-50% and among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained their freedom from colonial rule. Ethiopia’s poverty economy is based on agriculture, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agriculture sector suffers from drought and poor cultivation. Coffee is an important factor in exporting, in which $156 million was made in 2002 from exporting. Under Ethiopia’s land system, the government owns all land.

Ethiopia adopted a new constitution that established the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) in 1995. The federal government is responsible for national defense, foreign relations, and general policy of common interest and benefits. The Ethiopian government is headed by a constitution president and an executive prime minister who is responsible for the people’s Representative. An example of a piece of the Ethiopian constitution:

· Fundamental rights and freedom
All persons are equal before the law and are guaranteed equal and effective protection, without discrimination on grounds of race, nation, nationality, or other social origin, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion property, birth or other status. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the freedom, either individually or in community with others, and in public or private, to manifest his/her religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. Every person has the inviolable and inalienable right of life, privacy and the security of person and liberty.

http://www.mfa.gov.et/Facts_About_Ethiopia/Facts.php?Page=General_Profile_3.htm

An organization that is devoted in helping out Ethiopia is the International Rescue Committee (IRC). This organization helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, requested by Albert Einstein, the IRC provides lifesaving care and life-changing assistance. In Ethiopia, the IRC delivers aid to over 100,000 refugees who fled to Ethiopia helping over 500,000 Ethiopians from drought. Recently in September 15, 2011, the IRC provided clean water and sanitation services in the camps of Ethiopia, and served 82,000 refugees from the ongoing drought.

http://www.rescue.org/ethiopia