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Drought Victims in Ethiopia Need Urgent Help

by Rajashri on Oct 15 2008 1:43 PM

Africa should not be forsaken amid the global financial turmoil, according to Ethiopia, which is battling drought conditions.

"Despite the financial crisis, they (the international community) have to focus their attention on poor countries," State Minister for Food Security Mitiku Kassa told a press conference.

"My message to the world is 'don't forget Africa'," Mitiku said as called for 265.6 million dollars (194.7 million euros) to help some 6.4 million people in need of emergency food aid.

The global credit crunch has caused the worst crisis in decades in Western financial institutions and while Africa has so far been spared, observers argue that the flow of money from rich countries to Africa could slow down.

Africa's economy accounts for little more than two percent of world output and is heavily reliant on remittances and aid from developed countries.

Aid organisations say Ethiopia is on the brink of famine on the same scale as the 1984 famine which killed one million people.

Source-AFP
RAS/SK


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