Drought: 12 million Ethiopians need food aid

Twelve million Ethiopians, 15% of the population, need food aid because of drought, the UN warned Tuesday. "In addition to the 7 million who were already receiving assistance, 4.9 million people need emergency food aid," said Elizabeth Byrsa, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

•     The number of 4.9 million is based on an assessment mission inter-UN agencies on the needs of Ethiopia conducted in November and December, "said Byrsa to the press.
  
      The mission had also concluded that to meet the humanitarian needs in the country during the first half of 2009, 454.3 million dollars would be needed.
  
      Ethiopia is a victim of low rainfall which seriously affect crops in many parts in the east of the country, recalled Ms. Byrsa.
  
      "We have serious concerns about the persistent food insecurity in the coming months in some areas," she added.
  
      According to humanitarian actors, the current drought makes emerge the spectrum of the terrible famine of 80 years which had killed millions in Ethiopia, particularly because of forced displacement organized by the regime of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam.
  
      With 80 million inhabitants, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa and among the poorest. Over the past thirty years, is regularly hit by food shortages and climate disasters.
• Ethiopia is also the country which receives the most aid in the world.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.