Over six million Ethiopians are in need of emergency food aid due to poor rains during the harvest. Ethiopia on Thursday appealed for 159,410 tonnes of emergency food aid to assist these people, which is worth approximately $121 million.
The appeal was first launched six months ago to feed over 4 million people.
However, the figure rises to 6.2 million in the recent assessment report, which the government in collaboration with UN agencies carried out throughout the country.
The Ethiopian state minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said that this year’s rains were also poor, which forced additional people to depend on food aid.
According to him, the emergency food aid is required to reach the people as of this month until December 2009.
According to the latest appeal, Ethiopia needs 11 tonnes of fortified blended food for malnourished children and women estimated to cost $8.9 million, and another $45 million in non-food needs.
Source African Press Agency
