Global perspective Human stories

1 in 8 Ethiopians facing hunger this year, donor aid needed - UN

1 in 8 Ethiopians facing hunger this year, donor aid needed - UN

With the food situation in Ethiopia deteriorating significantly due to rain failure in some areas and poor rains in many others, international aid is needed to feed a growing number of hungry that this year will reach 1 in 8 of the population, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.

OCHA said 1.65 million of the 2004 beneficiaries who were expected to move off assistance after July would continue to need aid until the end of the year and a further 1.35 million new beneficiaries had been added, resulting in 3 million more beneficiaries and an increase of the 2004 total to about 8.5 million from 7.1 million.

Meanwhile, there is currently a shortfall of approximately 100,000 tons of cereals and 26,000 tons of pulses, for which donor response is required, OCHA added. Less than half of basic supply needs are funded, and an additional $7 million is needed for new malaria drugs as the malaria season proceeds in the Horn of Africa country.

The latest figures are based on the Ethiopian Government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission which presented the findings of a recent multi-agency needs assessment to a meeting of humanitarian partners.

Earlier this month UN aid coordinators opened an office in the Somali region of Ethiopia to provide assistance in the areas devastated by drought.