In progress at UNHQ

PRESS BRIEFING ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN ERITREA, ETHIOPIA

26/06/2003
Press Briefing


PRESS BRIEFING ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN ERITREA, ETHIOPIA


A third drought in four years in Eritrea and Ethiopia prevented communities from long-term recovery, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Carolyn McAskie, told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.  Recently returned from a visit to the Horn of Africa, she said the drought was further exacerbated by the fact that Ethiopia and Eritrea had not yet recovered from the war.  In Eritrea, over 2 million people, two-thirds of the total population, were affected and required humanitarian assistance.  A fairly low response to requests for assistance at the beginning of the year had picked up significantly over the second quarter.  About 40 per cent of the needs requested had now been pledged. 


The difficulty in getting the pledges to the region, unfortunately, meant that less than 19 per cent of the food aid was actually on the ground in Eritrea, she added.  Only about 60 per cent of the needy were getting food deliveries, and at lower rations.  Critical non-food deliveries, including supplementary feeding for children and assistance to water projects, were at about 12 per cent of what had been requested. 


The current situation in Eritrea would have an impact on long-term recovery, Ms. McAskie said.  She had held frank discussions with the Government on the need to improve its working relationship with non-governmental partners, particularly in areas such as demining.


Ethiopia was also facing a complex and serious situation, she said.  The food aid response to its appeal, however, had been very gratifying.  With a confirmed 90 per cent of the pledges met, she hoped that the 10 per cent gap would be closed, as well.  Non-food items were up to 80 per cent, and the response of the Government and the international community had been very good.


One area of concern was southern Ethiopia, where communities were suffering from a “green famine”.  That meant that crops were growing, but were unusually late.  In addition, entire areas were suffering from drops in income, as a result of low coffee prices.  During her visit, Ms. McAskie had come across large pockets of extremely vulnerable children in that region.  Children had suffered year after year, but had been overwhelmed by this particular drought.


Currently, most of the vulnerably groups had been identified and supplementary foods were being delivered, she said.  The good news was that 95 per cent of the most vulnerable children could be saved, if put on therapeutic feeding or supplementary feeding.  However, the Government, United Nations partners and donors must ensure that the next round of food needs assessments cover the whole country and all sectors.  The big issue for Ethiopia was long-term and medium-term recovery.  In that connection, the Government had just launched a comprehensive strategy called “Coalition on Food Security” to ensure better preparedness for future droughts.


Responding to questions by correspondents on AIDS, as well as the potential lack of assistance as a result of the situation in Iraq and the global recession, she said that she did not know of any other appeal where 90 per cent had been funded.  In fact, 100 per cent of the Ethiopia appeal would become

funded.  Despite the apparent drain on resources because of Iraq, the resources were coming to Ethiopia.  She was confident that the Ethiopian food requirements would be funded at 100 per cent for 2003.


Concerning AIDS, she said that about 10 per cent of the population was affected in Ethiopia.  However, the rates of infection were not as staggering as those seen in southern Africa, where the famine was as AIDS-related as it was drought-related.  As far as she could assess, the hunger situation in the Horn of Africa was not directly AIDS-related.


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For information media. Not an official record.