Gov't to boost aid in south

The Ethiopian government has announced it will boost aid rations to combat the worsening food crisis in the south of the country. It says it will increase cereal rations in the worst-affected areas to the internationally recommended allowance of 15 kg per person per month. The decision comes after aid agencies expressed concern over the situation in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region (SNNPR). Alarm has also been raised by humanitarian organisations working in the Fik zone of Somali region where malnutrition among children is “far above acceptable levels”. Both areas have seen malnutrition rates soar despite efforts to combat the scale of the food crisis in the country. In a related move, the US also met with other major donors in Ethiopia to reiterate the magnitude of the crisis and the scale of food requirements. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the country is still facing a major food shortfall – despite a renewed appeal by the government. “There is currently a substantial shortfall of some 300,000 tons towards the revised total global needs for Ethiopia for 2003 of 1.5 million tons,” WFP said. And the UN’s Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (EUE) called for “quick lifesaving measures” to prevent more people starving to death.