§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on food security in Ethiopia; and what assessment her Department has made of the number of people who have died as a result of food shortages in Ethiopia in the last 12 months. [102748]
§ Clare ShortThe overall response to the humanitarian crisis has so far averted mortality that could be directly attributed to levels of starvation. However, low levels of nutrition predispose people to disease, which can raise mortality rates. For this reason, we are working with the Ethiopian Government and other donors to provide assistance with health, water and sanitation in addition to food.