§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current situation in Ethiopia and the Sudan in regard to starvation, food stocks, international relief work and the level of British aid.
§ Mr. EggarFood aid pledges for Ethiopia more than cover the estimated requirements for this year. Widespread starvation has been averted, although the situation is critical in north western Welo. We have recently offered£250,000 towards the cost of air-dropping food to the isolated town of Sekota in this region. So far this year we have provided over £6 million bilaterally in emergency assistance in Ethiopia.
19WSufficient food has been committed to meet all estimated relief needs in northern Sudan and starvation appears to have been arrested. The situation in southern Sudan continues to cause concern. We are supporting the efforts of the voluntary agencies to distribute food. We have provided over £5 million in bilateral emergency relief for Sudan this year in addition to our substantial longer-term development programme.