$1.4 billion aid needed to deal with Ethiopia drought

Ethiopia will require 1.4 billion US dollars in humanitarian aid to deal with its worst drought in decades, according to the United Nations,UN.

Ethiopia is facing its worst drought in 30 years and millions are in dire in need of assistance, due to the effects of one of the most powerful El Nino events recorded in history.

According to UN’s secretary general Ban Ki-moon, the international community must help Ethiopia to avert the current crisis.

“It is important that when the Ethiopian government and national governments are responding to these challenges they have limited resources, that’s what the United Nations is trying to provide,” Ban said during a visit to the drought hit region.

#EthiopiaDrought: Today the UN Sec-Gen & WFPErtharin see the impact of drought & #ElNino in Ogolcho. pic.twitter.com/tvTuUQkGPN

— WFP Media (@WFP_Media) January 31, 2016

So far, the government has allocated 381 million US dollars and the Productive Safety Net Programme, run by the government in partnership with the World Bank, is aiming to assist about 8 million people.

Nevertheless, the government too is urging donors to support more than 10 million affected by the drought.

“Our government is committed to allocate the budget and mobilise any additional resource to the target groups, we are committed and responsible. We’ll continue in this regard. The action of the international community is very critical and should be on time,” Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen said.

Since the famine in 1984 that left about one million dead, Ethiopia has made great strides in trying to avert the crisis. Nonetheless, the UN has said that immediate support for Africa’s second most populous country will save lives.

#EthiopiaDrought would be far worse if not for govt changes, via AaronMG edmundblair https://t.co/rkxyfKJBTH pic.twitter.com/HbPKpsd2jB

— WFP Media (@WFP_Media) January 31, 2016

“Immediate support will also safeguard the impressive development gains that Ethiopia has made over the past years and decades. It will strengthen Ethiopia’s national distribution channels and social support networks, and build resilience for the future,” Ban said during a round table with humanitarian donors.