EC pledges money for food aid

The European Commission has pledged about Euros 15 million for drought-stricken Ethiopia – dependent on the scale of the food emergency. It is expected to announce that the money will buy 67,000 mt of food aid after the Ethiopian government spells out the scale of the crisis. The EC has also earmarked Euros three million to buy 10,000 mt of food aid through non-governmental organisations. All the food aid will be bought locally. In a statement released to the press called “the EC’s Commitment to Food Security”, it said it would adopt a “definite position” after the mid-term crop assessment. The assessment – which is to be announced in the coming days by the Ethiopian government - will set out new food needs. Fears that the main harvest will not provide enough food have been mounting because of the late start of the rains. “The feeling is that the crisis can only be adequately addressed if, in parallel to the emergency response, substantial efforts are devoted to tackle the structural problems,” the EC statement said.