Ethiopia

Etiopia

Water is changing lives in southern Ethiopia

Ethiopia, like many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, faces the severe impacts of climate change, contributing, for example, to sudden natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides. Caritas Czech Republic is helping people in southern Ethiopia gain access to water while strengthening their climate resilience. We have also supported women by involving them in economic and community activities. At the same time, we are working to improve local hygiene and sanitation conditions. 

Why is help in Ethiopia still needed?

For many families, water scarcity is a daily reality. People spend hours searching for a safe water source, children often miss school because of it, and health problems caused by contaminated water threaten entire communities. Access to safe drinking water, hygiene, and healthcare is therefore essential for improving people's quality of life and strengthening the long-term resilience of local communities.

7 things you might not know about climate change

How Caritas Czech Republic helps

Access to water

Access to water

In cooperation with the local Caritas and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, we secured a safe, reliable water source for village communities in southern Ethiopia. As a result, local people no longer have to spend long hours fetching water elsewhere and can be confident that clean water will not endanger their health. The maintenance of the water supply system was also entrusted to local committees made up of both women and men.

Support for healthcare

Support for healthcare

In cooperation with local partners, we contributed to strengthening healthcare services in southern Ethiopia – from equipping health facilities to training local healthcare staff. We succeeded in reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases, easing the burden on overstretched health centres, and shifting healthcare from responding to acute emergencies toward longterm prevention and improved health and resilience of the entire community. 

Articles

Caritas Czech Republic sets new safety standards for humanitarian and development workers
December 29, 2025 News

Caritas Czech Republic sets new safety standards for humanitarian and development workers

Helping others is only possible when those who provide the help are safe themselves. That is why Caritas Czech Republic places great emphasis on protecting its staff and creating a secure environment for their work. This year, we launched a systematic review and development of safety management within our humanitarian and development programmes. The aim of this strategy is to prepare staff for potential crisis situations arising from security threats and accidental or natural risks. According to Kristýna Kvasničková, Learning & Policy Coordinator, safety standards were updated this year at Caritas Czech Republic’s offices in Ukraine and Zambia. In the coming year, these procedures will also be implemented in other regions where Caritas operates. This activity was funded by the Czech Aid. 

Caritas Czech Republic's worldwide achievements in 2025
December 19, 2025 News

Caritas Czech Republic's worldwide achievements in 2025

The year 2025 brought both good and bad news. While a ceasefire was successfully agreed upon in Gaza in October, the humanitarian situation on site remains critical. People lack drinking water, food, medicine, electricity, and safe shelter. In Ukraine and Syria, people are also grappling with the consequences of long-term conflict. Caritas Czech Republic is working to improve their living conditions. For example, we are providing psychosocial care in Gaza, supporting the development of medical facilities in Ukraine, and restoring access to drinking water in Syria. We are also securing local water sources in Ethiopia, where we are simultaneously focusing on modernising agriculture, thereby enabling local farmers to better manage the impacts of climate change. However, this represents only the tip of the iceberg of our activities around the world. Let us, therefore, recall the greatest successes of Caritas Czech Republic’s work over the past year. 

Christmas ornaments shaped like spiders and their webs, or a camel taking on the role of Santa Claus. What unusual traditions are celebrated in countries where Caritas Czech Republic works?
December 11, 2025 News

Christmas ornaments shaped like spiders and their webs, or a camel taking on the role of Santa Claus. What unusual traditions are celebrated in countries where Caritas Czech Republic works?

In the Czech Republic, our unique Christmas tradition involves a golden pig. According to folklore, if we refrain from eating any food during the day, we will see the golden pig shining on the walls in the evening. This tradition might seem strange to people from abroad. Likewise, people in the Czech Republic may raise their eyebrows at Christmas ornaments shaped like spiders and their webs. Such decorations are customary in Ukraine. Let us introduce ourselves to unusual Christmas traditions from countries where Caritas Czech Republic operates.