Medeshi Sept 4, 2008Ethiopia’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.
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.
