THE World Food Programme has approved an emergency operation to provide food worth $40,5-million to people in drought-striken regions of Ethiopia. Nearly 1,2 million people in eight Ethiopian regions are estimated to be affected by the drought situation. WFP said in a statement on Friday that an extended dry spell has hindered crop planting, germination and growth and thus caused lower than expected crop yields in the country. “We are acting now to prevent a potentially major humanitarian crisis,” said Judith Lewis, the WFP’s Representative in Ethiopia. The emergency operation is expected to run from June to December providing 103253 tons of food aid to vulnerable sections of the population, including pregnant and nursing mothers, children under five, the disbaled and the elderly.