W-F-P / AFRICA DROUGHT (L-ONLY)___

BBC WORLD SERVICE AT 1705 GMT. THIS IS RICK WELLS WITH FOCUS ON AFRICA

Sixteen million people are threatened with starvation thanks to poor rains, successive crop failures and armed conflicts in the region. One of the area badly hit is the vast Ogaden region of Ethiopia that straddles the border with Somalia. Well, Mohamed Doolaal is the Foreign Secretary of the Ogaden National Liberation Front, which is fighting against the current government in Ethiopia. He's just back from a "visit" to four out of the 9 regions of the Ogaden. Robin White asked him how things compared to previous famines are.

Mohamed Doolaal: In fact the last bad famine we had was in 1974/75. We had a bad drought also in 1984. This one, in terms of scale, it's not as bad as those ones. But, people are dying of starvation. The capacity of purchasing food is nil. In addition to that, Ethiopia is having a war and, for the last two years, the people of Ogadenia have been asked to pay contributions for the defense of Ethiopia six times. They paid money and livestock six times.

Robin White: So, are you blaming the government for the problems you have now?

Doolaal: Yes, it is mal-administration. The Regional Administration, the money from the customs from Jigjiga, from Dhri-dhawa, from Moyale, 63 million per quarter is the income which is coming from the customs revenue. That money is used by the government. It is not used to feed the starving people. Ethiopia is spending one million dollars per day while its people are starving to death.

White: Now, what are your own people doing about it to help themselves? What is your organization doing to help the people?

Doolaal: In fact, our organization is not a humanitarian organization. We are fighters. We're fighting against the Ethiopian soldiers...

White: But maybe you could now change your strategy, providing food rather than fighting?

Doolal: n fact, on the 15th of last month, the Ethiopian forces attacked us in a place called??? They lost more than 190 soldiers. We wouldn't declare ceasfire unless the two fighting forces declare unanimoisly, so the people can be fed. Ethiopia has refused to cease. These people are warmongers. They are die-hard. They don't want peace to prevail. It is affecting us. The war taking place in Eritrea is affecting us. Our money is taken there. Our boys are taken there. Women and children are left here. Therefore, we're prepared, ONLF forces are prepared to take part in the distribution of the food, if Ethiopia is prepared to do so. At the same time, we will give full guarantee to the NGOs, those who are supplying food to pass areas under our control peacefully.

White: Some might say, and I'm sure the government would say, you're just using this disaster to create political propaganda for yourself.

Dolaal: It is the government which is creating (the problem). Ethiopia is calling for a massive food to come to Ethiopia. Ethiopia run out of money. They have spent US$ 90 million for 10 SUKHOI which they bought from Bulgaria, for tanks which they bough from Yugoslavia and for helicopters.

White: Let me ask you then. Do you think the International community should ignore this appeal from the international community to come and help your people?

Doolaal: No, they have to come. They have to come and distribute themselves. They shouldn't give one sack of grain to the Ethiopian government. They have to distribute it themselves and we will guarantee them safety and we will cooperate with them. That way we can save the lives of these people.

Robin White: Mohamed Doolaal of the Ogaden National Liberation Front