Red Cross says drought is serious

The International Federation of the Red Cross warns that drought in Eritrea is much worse than expected, with about 300,000 people in the Ansaba region alone in immediate need of food aid. After a tour of the drought-hit areas of northern Eritrea, country representative Arne Jacobsen told Reuters “People have started eating roots of wild plants and leaves from trees”. Jacobsen was quoted as saying “at least another 100,000 mt” was need soon to avoid disaster. An earlier appeal from the Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission requested food aid for 150,00 drought and war-affected people in the Ansaba region based on surveys carried out in November and December, said the report.