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ADDIS TRIBUNE
June 20, 2003

"U.S. Announces Additional Food Assistance Contribution"

Ambassador Aurelia E. Brazeal on Tuesday announced an additional United States pledge of 63,800 MT of food assistance to meet emergency requirements in Ethiopia. The announcement was made at a signing ceremony attended by Ambassador Brazeal, DPPC Commissioner Simone Mechale, the World Food Programme Country Director, and USAID Director.

At the ceremony, Ambassador Brazeal stated that the situation was extremely critical in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, particularly for children under-five years of age who are suffering from inadequate blended food and special medical assistance.

"We all must do more to meet the most urgent needs of the affected children in Sidama and Welayta," she declared, adding that the U.S. will continue its commitment to mitigate the effects of the current drought crisis in Ethiopia.

This latest contribution of 63,800 MT is valued at 27.4 million dollars, or 235.4 million birr. Since the beginning of the emergency, in July of 2002, the US has been working with Ethiopia and all partners to tackle the crisis. The US has, to date, provided 878,070 MT of food aid assistance, valued at approximately 403 million dollars, or 3.5 billion birr, to meet emergency food needs.

The US assistance has been distributed through a variety of partners. This latest contribution is made up of 60,000 MT wheat and 3,800 MT nutritious corn soya blend. It will be provided to the DPPC through the World Food Program (WFP) in Ethiopia. Commodities will be shipped as emergency food relief under United States Public Law 480, Title II, a program administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

In addition, the USG has provided 28 million dollars, or 238 million birr, to a variety of organizations to provide non-food assistance, meeting needs such as water and sanitation, seeds and agriculture rehabilitation, and primary health care and nutrition.