Top WV team to probe Ethiopia drought needs

A high level World Vision team will travel to Afar Regional State this week to view ongoing drought relief efforts and determine new measures to deal with an emerging crisis.

Almost one sixth of Ethiopia’s main harvest has been destroyed by drought. The UN’s World Food Programme warns the scale of the loss could have a “potentially devastating” impact on a country already facing food shortages.

The main crop yield in Ethiopia, the “Meher”, is harvested in both November and December.

“Early forecasts indicate that the harvest is likely to be around 15 percent less than a normal harvest,” a WFP spokesperson said.

WFP said food prices are likely to increase, affecting the majority of the population. It estimates that about 2 million tonnes of food aid are required for 2003.

The Ethiopian government estimates some 14 million people will be in need.

The UN’s Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (EUE) said that lowland areas had lost almost their entire harvest. In East and West Hararghe regions of eastern Oromiya, the drought has taken a heavy toll on crops.

“Crop failure for sorghum and late-planted main season crops will be between 60 per cent and 70 per cent in some parts of the midlands and highlands, and as high as 95-100 percent in the lowlands,” an EUE statement said.

The World Food Programme said it is concerned about the lack of food and pledges needed to feed millions of Ethiopians threatened by starvation early next year.