[dehai-news] (APA) Ethiopia’s Somali region is worst affected by drought, observes UN envoy


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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Sep 03 2008 - 12:47:27 EDT


2008-09-03

Ethiopia's Somali region is worst affected by drought, observes UN envoy

APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The Somali region of Ethiopia, inhabited mostly
by ethnic Somalis is one of the regions worst hit by the current drought in
Ethiopia, a visiting UN envoy said here Wednesday.

The envoy, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief
Coordinator John Holmes was speaking after visiting the area for the past
two days.

"It is critical that the presence of NGOs and other humanitarian actors be
expanded as soon as possible in this region. Mothers and children are in
desperate need of food and water. Strengthening the response, including
transparent and ongoing assessments, will be the key to saving lives," said
Holmes.

He is visiting the country following Ethiopia's recent appeal to feed around
4.5 million people who depend on food assistance due to poor rain from
February to April 2008.

He underlines the need to speed up the current humanitarian assistance in
the area to avoid any deaths from the drought.

"In the absence of humanitarian assistance, Ethiopians' attempt to adopt to
the status of asylum seekers in the hope of accessing food, shelter and
medical care. However, while they may not be asylum seekers, they live in
grim conditions and need immediate assistance." he added.

The Somali region is experiencing the worst emergency since 2001 following
the failure of three consecutive rainy seasons.

According the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNOCHA) Ethiopian office, more than one million people are being assisted
through emergency food aid.

"Water is scarce, forcing emergency interventions to continue even
throughout the rainy season," the office said.

Ethiopia and UN agencies earlier this years said that over $300 million were
needed to supply the required humanitarian needs to feed the over 4 million
people in the Somali region, Oromia and the southern regional states of the
country.

Mr. Holmes will conclude his mission to the country on Wednesday where he is
expected to hold talks with Ethiopian government officials about his visits
to the drought stricken areas and his assessment of the humanitarian
situation in the country.

DT/daj/APA
2008-09-03

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