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AIDS orphan explosion ominously close - UN

    JOHANNESBURG

    The UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, has warned that Ethiopia is making a very late response to children who have lost one or both parents to the disease.

    He put special emphasis on what he called the "orphan explosion," which was looming as a result of the delayed action.

    "There are about one million, or even probably more, orphans who have lost their parents as a result of the pandemic ... given the appalling situation, Ethiopia is making a much delayed response to the situation - if not neglecting the issue altogether," Lewis said at a recent press conference in the capital, Addis Ababa.

    He stressed that there was currently no visible policy or emphasis by government on HIV/AIDS orphans.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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