The United Nations on Thursday appealed for relief supplies worth $281-million to support more than 7,2-million Ethiopians affected by drought in the Horn of Africa country.
A total of 387 482 tonnes of food worth $159-million and non-food assistance worth $122-million is needed for 2005, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said in a statement.
”From 2005, about 2,2-million people will be provided with emergency food assistance, while more than five million others chronically short of food will be given assistance in the form of cash or food for labour-intensive public works,” Ocha said.
”In addition to food assistance, critical non-food intervention in agriculture, health and nutrition, water and sanitation will be given equal importance, especially in drought-affected parts of the country,” Ocha said in a joint appeal launched with the government, the UN and other aid groups.
Over the years, about 10% of the country’s 65-million people have faced acute food shortages caused by drought, and have also suffered in the aftermath of a 1998-2000 border war with Eritrea.
”Emergency needs in the non-food sector are now defined with the aim of saving lives and protecting livelihoods threatened by both acute and chronic emergency situations,” Ocha added. — Sapa-AFP