DATE=4/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ETHIOPIA / FAMINE (L)
NUMBER=2-261182
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=GODE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations and international relief
organizations are struggling to get food aid to
Ethiopia, where starvation threatens up to eight-
million people. In the midst of Ethiopia's famine,
donations of food began arriving Tuesday in Gode
[pron: `GO-day], one of the worst-affected areas.
V-O-A's Scott Stearns is there.
TEXT:
/// SFX: WORKERS SINGING-ESTABLISH & FADE UNDER ///
Ethiopian workers off-load emergency relief food in
the center of what is a growing famine. The town of
Gode has become a magnet for people from surrounding
areas looking for food.
Donations from the international community are
beginning to arrive, but officials fear more hungry
people are on their way here.
Tuesday's aid flight was organized by the French
government. Jean-Luc Francois is an attache with the
French Department of Cooperation:
/// 1st FRANCOIS ACT ///
This one, we are bringing emergency food for the
region which suffered the worst from the
drought.
/// END ACT ///
Relief workers say the drought is killing, on average,
six people a day in Gode. Most of them are children
under five. That's why therapeutic feeding centers
here are focusing on the youngest victims of the
drought. That's why Mr. Francois says there is a real
need for supplies, to stop the deaths.
/// 2nd FRANCOIS ACT ///
The food is mainly therapeutic: milk and
rehydration salt, which is a full priority.
/// END ACT ///
Relief officials say they have received promises for
half the food they need, and are optimistic the full
total will be met. If so, they are confident a major
humanitarian disaster can still be averted, but only
if the supplies in the aid pipeline arrive in time.
About one-third of the food has been donated by the
U-S Agency for International Development. [Here is]
Doug Sheldon, the U-S A-I-D mission director for
Ethiopia:
/// 1st SHELDON ACT ///
The fact is, it also is an evolving
circumstance, and we don't know what it will
evolve to. We're working on the scenario; we
think we can manage it. There are worst-case
scenarios, which could happen. We don't... We
hope that that isn't the case, but, being
prudent, we have to plan with that in mind.
// OPT // I believe that if the situation
remains within the boundaries that we've laid
out, I have every hope that should contributions
come together as planned or been requested, that
gain, as last year, the situation will be
manageable. // END OPT //
/// END ACT ///
The challenge now is getting the food to the people
who need it, before more of them leave their farms and
create the additional burden of a larger displaced
population.
/// 2nd SHELDON ACT ///
It's important that we handle it before people
leave the villages, before they start marching
into feeding centers, to places like that.
Because when that happens, the situation has
taken a very serious turn for the worst.
/// END ACT ///
The United Nations estimates some eight-million people
are threatened with starvation in Ethiopia, with a
similar number facing famine throughout the Horn of
Africa, after years of poor rains. (Signed)
NEB/SKS/WTW
11-Apr-2000 15:26 PM EDT (11-Apr-2000 1926 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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