Britain to help feed 1.3 million hit by Ethiopian drought

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has announced extra money for the World Food Programme’s work in the country.

He said: “Through no fault of its own, the Horn of Africa is experiencing a severe drought caused by the failed rains.

“Britain is acting quickly and decisively in Ethiopia to stop this crisis becoming a catastrophe. We will provide vital food to help 1.3 million people through the next three months.

“For the response to be effective, we need the most up-to-date, accurate information on the level of need in Ethiopia. The country has made great strides in many areas over the past 30 years and this emergency relief will help to ensure that these gains are not eroded.”

Mr Mitchell urged the Ethiopia Government to provide information so aid agencies could target relief.

The International Development Secretary also unveiled extra help for 329,000 malnourished children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to receive treatment.

Oxfam’s humanitarian director Jane Cocking welcomed the Government’s support.

She said: “The money cannot come soon enough.

“There are already critical and life-threatening food shortages in Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa region.

“Two successive poor rains have left millions of people struggling to get food as hundreds of thousands of livestock have died and crops have failed.

“Other donors now need to follow suit and increase funding before it is too late.”

Save the Children emergency adviser Matt Wingate said: “Money pledged by the UK Government will mean that aid agencies can get life-saving help to hundreds of thousands more children and their families.

“Our staff are receiving more and more malnourished children on the verge of starvation in our feeding centres every day.

“We urgently need other rich countries and donors to follow the UK Government’s lead and give money now so we can stop children dying across the region.”