The Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived in Ethiopia on Monday November 9th for a four-day trip.

The Belgian Queen visits the country in her capacity as Patron of UNICEF Belgium. Her Majesty will be visiting UNICEF projects related to the survival of young children. The mission focuses specifically on the objectives, which concerns the survival of the youngest in its fundamental dimensions: health, nutrition, drinking water and hygiène.
On arrival in Addis Ababa, Mathilde went to the "12 Yekatit" hospital in the capital Addis Ababa, she called a "center of excellence" for the treatment of young children in Ethiopia. She then met with the vice president of the mission Oromia.
During this trip she will also pay visit to the cities of Dire Dawa and also includes visits to projects in disadvantaged communities living in remote areas of Ethiopia. The Queen of the Belgians will also meet with victims of female genital mutilation.

According to the Palace this trip replaces the journey that had been scheduled in November 2014 in Burkina Faso, which was canceled due to the unrest that shook the country. This mission had already canceled a bearing on children's rights, an issue which, in the Palace, is important in the eyes of the Queen.