NGOs accuse EU of inadequate response to drought appeals

A row between international NGOs and the EU over their aid commitment to drought victims in Ethiopia intensified on Friday. The NGOs repeated calls on the EU to make "a substantial, real and new pledge to the needs of Ethiopia". They accused the EU of "playing with numbers" after the latter said it had pledged some 67,000 mt of food aid to help in the drought. The attack was launched by Save the Children-UK, Pathfinder Ethiopia, Save the Children-US, Ethiopia, Oxfam-GB, Christian Aid, Action Aid, and Save the Children-Norway. They said in a jointly signed statement: "Although there are now good responses from the US and a number of European donors, we are still waiting for a substantial donation from The European Union to the appeals this year. "The EU very publicly announced at the appeal in January by the [Ethiopian government] DPPC [Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission] that they would not be making a donation towards the appeal at that time, nor did they make a new pledge to the appeals in July. During the course of this year, they have purchased grain to replenish stocks previously used, which is commendable, and they have carried over stock from last year for distribution this year. "However, no one can pretend that this is a new response to this year's problem." The seven leading NGOs and the EU traded accusations and counter accusations last week over how best to deal with the emergency in Ethiopia. The NGOs criticised the EU for failing to do enough to help to help drought-afflicted families. The DPPC said that about six million people would need aid until the end of the year, but went on to warn that as many as 14 million might be in need of food aid by 2003. The NGOs went on to say that "although there are now good responses from the US and a number of European donors, we are still waiting for a substantial donation from the European Union to the appeals this year. We call on the EU to make a substantial, real and new pledge to the needs of Ethiopia. There is no benefit to the poor of Ethiopia from playing with numbers." For its part the EU insists that it has been supporting the emergency appeal by the government, and had "contributed substantially in food and non-food aid requirements" this year. It said in a statement that it would respond to any emergency appeals after results from crop assessments were completed. "Any further pledges from donors will be made on the basis of the revised appeal expected over the next few days." "The European Union has contributed substantially in food and non-food aid requirements this year. The European Commission alone has procured and delivered about 100,000 mt of food aid so far in 2002," the statement noted.