UN agency, Ethiopian Government appeal for additional $40 million and food aid

The United Nations food agency and the Ethiopian Government have jointly appealed for an additional $40 million for non-food humanitarian aid and 37,500 tons of food to lessen the effects of the humanitarian crisis crippling the country.

Already struggling with the effects of severe drought conditions and food shortages, Ethiopia is also experiencing a major health threat fuelling a likely malaria epidemic and water related diseases, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

The appeal document, entitled "Update of Emergency Assistance Requirements and Implementation Options for August to December 2003" and released last Friday, says the most urgent requirements are the provision of targeted supplementary food, malaria prevention and control and the supply of more emergency health kits.

Water provision and sanitation for an estimated 4.2 million beneficiaries are also particularly under-funded areas of most concern.

In agriculture, additional funding is required for animal health, feed and fodder bank development as well as the recovery of non-cereal crops and early warning and coordination activities.

The appeal update also indicates that as of last month, 2.4 million additional beneficiaries need food assistance, out of which 1.8 million people need an extension of assistance and 600,000 are new beneficiaries.