DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFRICA FAMINE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260988
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A senior U-S humanitarian aid official say he
believes an additional two million people now face
potential starvation in the Horn of Africa, where food
shortages are overwhelming relief efforts. From the
State Department, VOA's Kyle King reports.
TEXT: U-S Agency for International Development
official Hugh Parmer, says as many as ten million
people are now at risk of starvation in Ethiopia.
Mr. Parmer's estimate is two million higher than
previous U-S projections, and follows a fact finding
trip he took to the region that ended last week.
Briefing reporters at the State Department, Mr. Parmer
said as many as 18 million people in the Horn of
Africa are now at risk of starvation because of
drought during the growing season that just ended.
/// PARMER ACT ///
The conditions in Southern Ethiopia are
extremely close to those conditions that we
would refer to as a famine. I guess I would
distinguish it from an actual famine only
because at this point only the most vulnerable,
the children and the elderly are dying in
Southern Ethiopia.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Parmer, who also traveled to Kenya, Somalia,
Djibouti and Eritrea, described conditions in many
areas as pre-famine, meaning any interruption of
relief efforts could cause starvation.
Mr. Parmer says at least 868 thousand metric tons of
food aid will be needed in Ethiopia, but only three
quarters of that amount has been pledged.
The United States has agreed to send more than 400
thousand metric tons and the European Union has
pledged about 220 thousand tons. But the U-S
officials says more aid is needed from individual
countries.
/// PARMER ACT ///
The appeal is now about three quarters met, but
we need that additional food, the other donor
countries, the individual countries that do
contribute, our friends in places like Japan and
Canada, we need to hear from, in terms of their
commitment to assist, in keeping this from
becoming a widespread famine of the 1984 level.
/// END ACT ///
During that famine more than 800 thousand people in
Ethiopia are believed to have starved to death.
Mr. Parmer said the United States was sending a team
of logistical experts to evaluate the port in Djibouti
to determine ways to help speed the delivery of food.
Many of the roads and supply lines for food aid are
severely strained, and the long running conflict
between Ethiopia and Eritrea has limited deliveries to
some areas. During his visit, Mr. Parmer said he
urged officials from the two countries to open
humanitarian aid corridors, but he says the proposal
did not receive an enthusiastic reception. (Signed)
NEB/KBK/TVM/PT
05-Apr-2000 17:26 PM EDT (05-Apr-2000 2126 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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