Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
The Ethiopia government declared that 5.2 million people will need food this year and appealed to international aid agencies to bring emergency aid in the country. The country needs 642,983 metric tons of food from international donors due to the drought.
Ethiopia has already received more than half of its plea and now requires about 246,771 tons of aid worth $188 million, according to a statement from the government and aid agencies sent to reporters on Wednesday.
Most of the people who need relief live in the southeastern region near the borders of Somalia and Ethiopia.
The region which has witnessed a number of clashes between rebels of the Ogaden National Liberation Front and Ethiopia military is under the control of the military.
About 5.2 million people would be in need of food this year according to August 2009 estimation.
International donors gave Ethiopia more than 550,000 tons of emergency food aid last year, reports said.
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