Military

DATE=4/27/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=W-F-P/ETHIOPIA (L-O)

NUMBER=2-302617

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-N World Food Program says the problems of drought and hunger in Ethiopia have significantly worsened. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports that a recent W-F-P survey in Ethiopia finds the number of people at risk from famine has increased from 11-million to 12-point-six-million since the start of this year.

TEXT: The World Food Program says it urgently needs one-million tons of food to respond to this situation. W-F-P spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume says the agency is appealing for an additional 200-million dollars to feed those most at risk of starvation.

/// BERTHIAUME ACT ///

Now we have 12-point-six million people that are in need of help. W-F-P cannot feed all of them. So, what we are targeting is the most vulnerable of them, that represents about 40-percent and the government, N-G-Os' (non-governmental organizations) donors and in a bilateral way fill the gap. But it is very serious.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Berthiaume blames the lack of rain in December and January for the rise in the number of hunger victims. She says the continued drought has resulted in a significant drop in agricultural production. This means many do not have the money to buy food in the markets.

She says the W-F-P expects that at the current rate, their food stocks will run out by August. In anticipation of this, she says W-F-P began cutting food rations in March.

/// BERTHIAUME 2nd ACT ///

Instead of giving 15 kilogram per person per day, we have cut to 12-point-five kilogram per person per day. It might sound little, you know, a few kilogram less. But, for people in Ethiopia who are really living on the verge - these people have gone through years and years of drought - it is a very poor country. So the fact that you are cutting their rations even by a few grams can be catastrophic for them.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Berthiaume says the W-F-P is particularly concerned about the children, increasing numbers of whom are becoming malnourished. To help them, she says, it is crucial that they be given special, highly enriched food. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/ALW/RAE