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"Massive" relief needs next year, govt warns

[Ethiopia] DPPC commissioner at appeal. Anthony Mitchell
Simon Mechale
    ADDIS ABABA

    The Ethiopian government on Monday warned that relief needs next year will remain massive because of the devastating drought currently affecting the country.

    Simon Mechale, commissioner of the government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC), said the country had already passed the "best-case scenario" of some seven million people needing food aid next year because late rains “ended earlier than hoped”.

    The government believes anywhere between 10 and 14 million people will need help. “And yet, whichever scenario emerges, the relief needs in 2003 will remain massive,” Simon said at the launch of an emergency food appeal.

    He added that villagers across the country were showing serious signs of hunger. “While we can say now that the measures so far taken have helped minimise human suffering, the real
    challenge of averting a disaster is ahead of us,” he said.

    “Already there are signs of acute malnutrition in some areas requiring intensive feeding programmes and special health interventions,” he stressed.

    [See also: "Senior UN official calls for more assistance"]

    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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