Geldof can be proud of Ethiopia legacy

It is more than 30 years since the images from Ethiopia of helplessness and starvation that spurred Band Aid were seen on television screens around the world.

Michael Buerk’s powerful BBC reports galvanised a young Irish singer and band leader to action. The huge aid operation begun by Bob Geldof in 1984 and to which millions of Irish people contributed, has resulted in an economic miracle unmatched in Africa. The nation of 94m people is not without its difficulties and still receives development aid from many countries. It also has a repressive media environment, with bloggers and journalists who are critical of the government habitually jailed.

While Ethiopia has a way to go before it is self-sufficient, it is making great strides and has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.