UN looking at drought impact on peace process

The UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has expressed concern over the severe drought that has hit millions of people in the region. The peacekeeping force said it was looking at the potential implications of the drought on the peace process between the two countries following their border war from 1998-2000. Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainte, acting UNMEE spokeswoman, told a press briefing on Friday that incidents of cattle rustling along the 1,000 km border had been blamed on the severe drought conditions. But, she added, so far there had been no flare-ups or threats to the two-year-old ceasefire between Ethiopia and Eritrea because of the drought. Some 14 million people in Ethiopia and at least a million in Eritrea are expected to need food aid next year. “UNMEE, as well as the rest of the humanitarian community, is increasingly concerned about the impact of the drought on Ethiopia and Eritrea and endorses the call for additional food aid pledges made by both governments,” Sainte said.