From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Sep 08 2008 - 17:35:59 EDT
Food security in drought-stricken Ethiopia at alarming levels, warns UN
WFP expands food assistance to Ethiopia
8 September 2008 – The food security situation in Ethiopia has deteriorated
to alarming levels in the wake of drought conditions throughout much of the
Horn of Africa country, and relief agencies are grappling with shortages of
supplies, the United Nations warned today.
Some 4.6 million people in Ethiopia are need of food aid due to a
combination of drought and high food prices, according to the UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA <http://ochaonline.un.org/>).
UN humanitarian chief John Holmes, who just returned from a visit to
Ethiopia, told reporters last week that it was clear that "the crisis
remains very severe, and the numbers of people affected are continuing to
rise."
Successive droughts have resulted in a drop in crop production that in turn
have led to a surge in food prices – up to 500 per cent in some parts of the
country – over the past year. The southeast has been particularly hard hit.
"Ethiopia presents a glaring example of the challenges posed by rising food
prices," said Mr. Holmes, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Although a $325 million humanitarian appeal launched for Ethiopia in June
has been "reasonably well funded" at over 60 per cent, Mr. Holmes urged
donors to contribute more for the next few months to help alleviate the
situation.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP <http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31>), for
example, needs $136 million worth of food for its operations.
Meanwhile, flooding in Ethiopia's south-western Gambella region has
reportedly displaced nearly 35,000 people, and destroyed thousands of
hectares of crop land. Most of the people uprooted are being sheltered in
schools, government compounds and relatives' homes.
OCHA has warned of increasing health threats among the displaced, especially
malaria, diarrhoeal disease and respiratory infections, noting that water
shortages are contributing to the risks of getting sick.
The World Health Organization (WHO <http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/>) and
the Ministry of Health have provided emergency drugs and medical supplies
for 10,000 people in the region for one month. Other immediate needs include
shelter, food, water, water treatment chemicals, insecticide treated nets,
sanitation facilities and health services.
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