§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister for Overseas Development to Ethiopia between 25 and 27 November.
§ Mr. RaisonI went in the RAF Hercules to relief camps at Korem and Mekele and to the port at Assab. I saw representatives of the Ethiopian Government, 499W voluntary agencies and international organisations and had a long talk with Chairman Mengistu. The camps are tragic, but much hard work is being done and the number of children recovering from starvation and disease is encouraging. I was impressed by the splendid work of in the voluntry agencies and the superb operation of the RAF which has won it an enviable reputation in Ethiopia. Cooperation with the Ethiopian authorities is generally good.
I have decided to send a substantial quantity of blankets as well as extra conveyors to help unloading at the port. The need for food is paramount (and I was concerned at the lack of food aid expected in the next two weeks). I shall encourage other donors to work with the World Food Programme and the United Nations coordinator, Mr. Jansson, whom I met in Addis Ababa, to seek a sufficient and well-timed supply of food through 1985. I shall now be considering what further steps to take.