ETHIOPIA: Government calls for more funds to offset food shortages
ADDIS ABABA, 2 July 2008 (IRIN): Donor pledges to cover food and non-food items are insufficient to tackle the massive food shortages Ethiopia is facing, the government has said.
– Until now we have got 160 million US dollar in pledges (tilsagn), Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legese said. – But we need 430 million dollar, the official, who recently visited some of the most affected areas, added.
The estimate of funds needed to contain the situation, he told a parliamentary session debating the drought and food security on 26 June, took into account the likely food situation over the next five months.
– How many people should die before you say the situation is out of control? Lidetu Ayalew, chairman of the opposition EUDP Medhin party, asked the prime minister. – If one person died due to the drought, the situation is already out of control, stated he.
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