Written question asked by Gary Streeter (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 April 2000. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Thursday, 13 April 2000 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the famine in Ethiopia. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the famine in Ethiopia. [118040] Clare Short: The situation in Ethiopia is serious. Ethiopia is a very poor country with a GDP of $110 per capita. Many Ethiopians are partially dependent on food aid in most years. This is the third year in succession when the early rains have either failed or been poor. Ethiopia has also been engaged in a war with Eritrea since May 1998. The war has disrupted Ethiopia's economic and social progress. It has also affected food security by diverting trucking capacity and increasing costs; denying access to the ports of Massawa and Assab; and denying rural households supplementary income sources in Eritrea and Tigray. As a result, eight million people now face serious food shortages. According to the information we have available, Ethiopia's initial appeal for 758,000MT of cereals is almost fully met. Britain has provided £4.5 million of food and non-food bilateral assistance this year. We have provided more bilateral food aid this year than any European donor and we will contribute 17 per cent. of the 432,000 metric tonnes which will be provided through the EC this year.

Secondary information