Twenty-five years ago more than one million people in Ethiopia died during a devastating famine. Now, Tsegaye Tadesse is reporting for Reuters out of Addis Ababa that on Thursday, the nation “appealed” for “159,410 tonnes of emergency aid to feed 6.2 million people [.]”Ethiopia is suffering from a five year drought that has crippled domestic agriculture production, and is “afflicting more than 23 million people in seven east African nations.” The State Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mitku Kassa, stated, ‘“As a result, the number of people needing emergency assistance during the period Oct.-Dec. 2009 has increased to 6.2 million from 4.9 million at beginning of the year,’ he said.” Ethiopia’s population is 83 million people.
The amount of food Ethiopia is requesting is worth $121 million. The United Nations has urged Ethiopia to grant and “ensure free access to aid workers to the war-torn eastern Somali region.” Apparently, access to this area has been very difficult for the non-food sector, and the country is in need of medical supplies and other supplies in addition to food for the malnourished.
In other news on Thursday, Oxfam “called for an end to what it called ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to food crises that focused on sending food aid.” The organization seems to be aligning its position on feeding the world with that of the UN and the US. While emergency food aid will likely always be necessary, many are convinced that self-sustaining agriculture in these nations is the only way to address the long-term famine problems.
“Oxfam said communities at risk should be helped to prevent and deal with disasters like drought before they strike, rather than relying mostly on short-term emergency relief supplies.”
To read the Reuters report click here.
Posted 10/23/09
