PENSIONERS BUCKLE UNDER PRESSURE

PENSIONERS BUCKLE UNDER PRESSURE

May 4 , 2025.


Pensioners face harsh economic realities, their retirement payments swiftly eroded by inflation and spiralling living costs. They struggle daily despite a recent pension rise, barely covering transportation and essentials, as the weakening Birr pushes staple prices through the roof. Their plight reflects a broader crisis. Human Rights Watch reported only 7.4pc of Ethiopia’s elderly population receives pensions, with nine in 10 beneficiaries male, leaving most vulnerable to poverty and neglect.

A familiar story of economic insecurity compounded by isolation abounds. The Ethiopian Elderly & Pensioners National Association warns of widespread food insecurity and untreated illnesses among retirees, with surveys indicating that over 80pc regularly skip meals. The situation worsens in rural regions, where over 60pc of pensioners languish below the poverty line, too distant or unwilling to access pension payments.



PUBLISHED ON May 04,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1305]



Editorial