In a tiny rented room in Addis Ababa, Haddse Nigusse lives with her eleven-month-old twins, the girl Yamariam and the boy Yabsira. The 22-year-old was abandoned by her partner when she was eight months pregnant. She lives with the children and her younger sister in a cramped space. The sister earns 8000 Birr a month in a factory, equivalent to around 40 Swiss Francs. "But just the rent for the room costs 6000 Birr," says Haddse Nigusse. "There is far too little money left for milk, diapers, and food.
To provide for her children, she begs in front of churches. "People give me something because they see the twins. But the children are growing. I don't know how much longer this will go on."
Her difficult situation has further worsened in recent months. Since the war between Iran, Israel, and the USA, fuel prices in Ethiopia have risen sharply. Diesel prices soared by about 40% between December 2025 and May 2026. The consequences are especially hard for a landlocked country like Ethiopia. Since almost all goods are transported by truck over long distances, the higher transport costs directly affect the prices of staple foods.
Hanna Addisu also experiences how dramatic the development is for families with young children. The 28-year-old lives with her husband and two children in rented accommodation. The bedridden landlord lives in the same apartment in a simple house with mud walls and a tin roof. Only a curtain separates the landlord's area from the family’s room. There is no privacy.
Prices in some cases doubled
Her husband works as a bus fare collector, and Hanna Addisu sells tissues and chewing gum on the street. "One and a half years ago, the income was enough to survive," says Hanna Addisu. But the prolonged inflation and recent price increases due to the Persian Gulf War have made many goods almost unaffordable: "A liter of milk cost 50 Birr, now 85 Birr. Five liters of cooking oil rose from 900 to 2000 Birr. A diaper cost 12 Birr, today 25 Birr."
After the birth of her daughter Makrina, the plight worsened. Due to complications related to her diabetes, Hanna Addisu had to be hospitalized. At the same time, the baby suffered from jaundice. For three months, the mother could not breastfeed. Although neighbors collected money for milk powder, it was not enough. "I was very worried about my daughter," says Hanna Addisu. The girl kept growing weaker.
Protein-rich special nutrition
To help children like Makrina and Haddse Nigusse's twins, Menschen für Menschen runs a nutrition program for particularly vulnerable families in Addis Ababa. A total of 150 malnourished and undernourished toddlers receive the protein-rich special nutrition Famix. Regular community meetings with mothers, weight checks, and nutritional counseling accompany the support.
The first successes are visible. Makrina has gained weight in recent weeks, reports her mother. Haddse also expresses similarly about her twins: "They are much more active now."
Vocational training helps in the long term
Menschen für Menschen combines emergency aid with long-term support. Very poor women are given the opportunity to undergo vocational training. During the training period, their children are cared for in a project-owned nursery. After graduation, women can earn their own income and support their families. "Until now, I never had a choice," says Hanna Addisu. Now she hopes for a training place and to be able to provide a better life for her family in the future.
Menschen für Menschen is committed to fighting poverty and hunger. The foundation was established by actor Karlheinz Böhm (1928 - 2014). In the founder's spirit, the Swiss aid organization creates life perspectives for the poorest families in Ethiopia. The aim of the work is to enable them to live with dignity in their homeland. The focus areas of individual projects are women's empowerment, vocational training, microloans, child assistance, family planning, and agricultural development. These components are combined according to local needs and implemented with carefully selected local partners.
Donation account:
Postal account 90-700 000-4
IBAN: CH97 0900 0000 9070 0000 4
Online donations: www.mfm.ch
For additional information or interviews with experts,
please contact:
Michael Kesselring
m.kesselring@mfm.ch
Tel.: +41 (0)43 499 10 60