Ethiopia: Appeal for $1.4 billion in drought aid

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government and international organizations on Friday launched a joint appeal to raise $1.4 billion to provide emergency assistance to the 10.2 million people in the country suffering from the extended drought.

The failure of two consecutive rainy seasons, followed by weak summer rain that normally waters crops to feed a large part of the country, has drastically reduced the food supply in six Ethiopian regions.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) partnered with the Ethiopia Humanitarian Country Team in the appeal.

The drought is expected to worsen in the months ahead, the statement said.

“The highest priority remains food - some $1.1 billion is urgently required for emergency food assistance,” Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF’s Representative to Ethiopia, said in the statement.

The Ethiopia Country Team called on development partners and development assistance groups to continue their assistance and to find sustainable solutions for the country.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The drought is expected to worsen in the months ahead, the statement said.

“The highest priority remains food - some $1.1 billion is urgently required for emergency food assistance,” Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF’s Representative to Ethiopia, said in the statement.

The Ethiopia Country Team called on development partners and development assistance groups to continue their assistance and to find sustainable solutions for the country.