- Title: [SW News] New York, UN (PANA) NGOs
Appeal For Increased Response To Drought In Ethiopia
- From:[]
- Date :[Thursday, April 06, 2000 8:07 PM EST ]
"...To get relief supplies to the affected areas, he ( Save
the Children Official )suggested the use of a port in Somalia instead of the
present reliance on the port in Djibouti...."
NGOs Appeal For Increased Response To
Drought In Ethiopia
Story Filed: Thursday, April 06, 2000 8:07 PM EST
New York, UN (PANA) (Panafrican News Agency, April 6, 2000) - Two NGOs involved in
humanitarian operations in Ethiopia have joined the growing call for increased
international response to the deteriorating drought situation in the country and other
countries in the Horn of Africa.
Officials of Oxfam America and Save the Children addressed a press conference at the UN
Wednesday, warning that severe drought as well as food and water shortages are threatening
the lives of many people in Ethiopia.
Michael Delaney of Oxfam, who recently visited the country, said the drought situation
there is worse than that witnessed in 1984/1985.
"I spoke with many people in Ethiopia who witnessed the famine of 1984-1985 and
they said the conditions we're seeing now are worst than the conditions prior to that
emergency that killed nearly one million people," he added.
It has been estimated that eight million people in the south eastern part of Ethiopia
are facing severe drought conditions resulting from rain failure in the past six seasons.
A good number of cattle, the main source of livelihood for people in the affected
areas, have died. Rudolph von Bernuth of Save the Children said the situation is so
critical that people and their cattle lack food and water.
In a particular town where his organisation is operating, he 25 children recently died
in one day from conditions related to malnutrition.
In response to the problem, Save the Children has established one therapeutic centre
and another supplemental feeding centre for malnourished children.
"The number of children being admitted to the hospital to receive this feeding is
double than what was first expected," von Bernuth said, adding that only a small
number of those in need are being reached.
Some 800,000 tonnes of food is needed for relief operations in Ethiopia, according to a
UN assessment report. But von Bernuth said delivery of assistance will encounter problems
because Ethiopia lacks good roads.
To get relief supplies to the affected areas, he suggested the use of a port in Somalia instead of the present reliance on the port in
Djibouti.
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