Eritrean Press
Eritrea Asked to Open its Ports for Ethiopia Famine Relief
by CDE
COMMENT: It is a humanitarian request which Asmara will be glad to help, but the Dedebits WILL reject it once again.
12 Mar, 2016 - The severe Ethiopian famine that is just over the horizon will require the use of Eritrean ports to handle the massive arrival of food relief from the international community, said Ambassador Herman Cohen.
"The sheer volume of food for 40 million people cannot be processed solely by the port of Djibouti and the railway from Djibouti to Addis Ababa."
The ambassador added, "It is important that Ethiopia and Eritrea start making arrangements immediately for the opening of the Eritrean ports of Asab and Massawa so as to receive the ships carrying the famine relief. These ports have easy access to northern Ethiopia where most of the need exists."
In 2000, Eritrea had offered the use of its two ports to allow the delivery of international humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia after 8 million people was in need of urgent food assistance in Norther Ethiopia.
The ruling regime in Ethiopia rejected Eritrea's good gesture.
Yesterday, US President Hussein Obama said, "Ethiopia is in the worst drought in a half century and need all the help it can get from the international community."
According to the UN, 20 million people are starving in Ethiopia with 14 million suffering in the south and east of the country (source: Sky New).
Eritrea expected to offer the use of Massawa and Asab ports based strictly on humanitarian ground.
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/Eritrean-Press-218987881627147/
http://www.cohenonafrica.com/homepage/2016/3/11/eritrean-ports-ethiopian-famine
Received on Sat Mar 12 2016 - 12:03:43 EST