Ms Abera said although she was born after the famines of 1973 and 1984, when hundreds of thousands starved to death and images of dying children appeared on the world's television screens, she was well-versed with the country's history of famine.
She used to send money back home while working in Dubai but that stopped after she moved to New Zealand.
Her dad is a retired civil servant and receives next to nothing in pension after tax.
"I feel sorry for them but at least they are alive," she said.
The situation for many in the impoverished African nation was dire.
"I know there were still places there that had no food and water back then. The situation for many hasn't improved since and if it doesn't rain later this year or early next year, food supply will be in serious jeopardy," she said.
"Even in the city where I grew up in, the situation was bad, with no power and water and everything was quite expensive."
Ms Abera is studying English at English Language Partners' Northland and volunteers at Whangarei Migrant Centre.
She would prefer to live in a district among fellow Ethiopeans, such as Auckland, but may stay put in Whangarei where she is making friends.
The Ethiopean government and aid groups have kept food shipments flowing to areas ravaged by drought in recent months. But they need more money at a time when international donors are dealing with a string of humanitarian disasters around the world.
In December, about 10.2 million people were in need of $1.4 billion in aid.
