Red Cross fights famine in Africa

The first phase of relief covers 181,000 people in the Imi, Gode, Denan and Adaadle districts in southern Ogadan with 37 flights to these stricken townlands already planned for this month. The Red Cross has organised 1,100 tonnes of food and cooking oil for distribution to these most affected areas.

Ethiopia is just one of the countries in the Horn of Africa region which is facing extreme malnutrition owing to lack of rainfall. This is the fourth consecutive year that the essential "belg" rains have failed in February and the chances of the April "Gu" rains arriving are put at just 50-50. Because of the drought in February, short-cycle crops were not planted and it is unlikely that the ground will be moist enough to plant long-term crops such as corn in late April. Because of food shortages, cattle have been either sold by families or have died as families take to the roads in search of food. By the end of March, 2000 Livestock were known to have been lost.

At the beginning of the year, the Ethiopian Government increased its annual Appeal for Emergency Food Assistance by 21% to target roughly 8 million people with 838,000 tonnes of food.

"The people of Ethiopia and neighbouring countries are now facing the very real possibility of starvation and disease and we must help them now before it's too late," said Irish Red Cross Secretary General, Paul Lynch.

The Irish Red Cross is appealing for funds to be sent by cheque or postal order to the African Appeal at Irish Red Cross, 16 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 or by bank giro to Bank of Ireland A/c 16305917. Code 90-00-17 or AIB A/c 33627078. Code 93-10-12 or by CallSave 1850 50 70 70 (Monday - Friday during office hours.

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